Volume 109, Number 8 September 2012

Published in Gippsland Diocese since 1904

The Gippsland Anglican is your award winning newspaper: Best Regional Publication Silver Award (ARPA) 2011; Item or Feature that
shows the most originality Highly Commended (ARPA) 2011; Best Social Justice Story Highly Commended (ARPA) 2004; Best Regional
Publication (ARPA) 2003; Most Improved Newspaper (ARPA) 2001.
Jesus Christ in
Croajingolong parish
pages 5 to 8
Faithful families are
intentional
Page 4
Award-winning
christian literature
pages 18 & 19
ABOVE: St Georges Wonthaggi has recently started a weekly main-
ly music session which has proved to be very popular. Parents and
caregivers bring their pre-school children to a 30-minute session of
music and movement, sharing an instrument, doing actions with
each other, sitting together and having fun; followed by morning tea
and play with toys and puzzles. Kate OHalloran (left) is group leader
of the helpers, including Jane Peters (right).
Photo/Contributor: Jill Price
New principal
for Gippsland
Grammar
THE Chairman of Gippsland
Grammar School, Bishop John
McIntyre, has announced the
appointment of David Baker to
be the new principal of the
school, from January 1, 2013.
David has been the deputy
principal of Mentone Grammar
School, Victoria since 2008. He
was Head of Senior School at
The Peninsula School, Victoria
and taught there and at the
Prahran campus of Wesley
College.
David is well qualified with a
Masters of Education, Graduate
Diploma in Educational
Administration and Bachelor of
Education (Mathematics and
Science).
David demonstrates well
developed leadership, educa-
tional, strategic and organisa-
tional skills and understands well
how all elements of a school fit
together, said Bishop John.
He has a solid track record of
staff management and develop-
ment, on building capacity in
others, inclusiveness and of
instilling in his team a strong
understanding of their value and
contribution to the school.
David brings to Gippsland
Grammar a very good grasp of
contemporary teaching and
learning. It is his view educa-
tional success requires a whole
of school approach to teaching
and learning that integrates
each age and stage to create a
continuum of experiences that
challenge, empower and nurture
each child. He is skilled in
engaging students in education,
creating a sense of pride in their
school and their own sense of
academic achievement.
David also offers Gippsland
Grammar a keen sense of the
responsibilities and challenges of
the commercial aspects of
school management. As deputy
principal, he participated in
strategy development and suc-
cessfully implemented agreed
initiatives, including involvement
in building programs.
Bishop John said David has a
demonstrated record of commu-
nity involvement and is commit-
ted to supporting and promoting
the Anglican ethos of the school,
to students and the community.
David and his wife, Jane, have
two children, Caitlin and Amy.
Next year, Caitlin will attend
Gippsland Grammar School in
Year 8 and Amy in Year 5.
As a family, we are very excit-
ed about the move to Gippsland
Grammar. In particular, we are
looking forward to the new
opportunities the school will
offer and involving ourselves in
all aspects of the local communi-
ty, David Baker said.
Children tune to music
THE very popular Babies Prom,
also known as the Childrens
Music Prom, will begin at 11am,
at Gippsland Grammar on
Sunday, September 2, at
Garnsey Hall in McGhee Street.
Aimed at children aged two to
six years, the Prom is a dynam-
ic, entertaining and interactive
concert introducing young chil-
dren to music and instruments
of the orchestra. It is open to
everyone; tickets are $5 each
and children under the age of
two are free. Bookings and
enquiries to the music depart-
ment, telephone 03 5143 6381.
2 Our Diocese - Missions and Ministries September 2012
The Gippsland Anglican
The Gippsland
Anglican
Price: 90 cents +gst each
$25 +gst annual postal subscription
Member of Australasian Religious
Press Association
Member of Community Newspapers
Association of Victoria
Registered by Australia Post.
Print Post Number 34351/00018
The Gippsland Anglican is the official
newspaper of and is published by
The Anglican Diocese of Gippsland,
453 Raymond St,
Sale, Victoria, 3853,
www.gippsanglican.org.au
Editor: Mrs Jeanette Severs,
PO Box 1254, Bairnsdale, 3875
Tel: 0407 614661
Fax: 03 5144 7183
Email: editor@gippsanglican.org.au
Email all parish reports, all articles,
photographs, advertisements and
letters to the Editor. Photographs as
jpeg files. Articles as .doc or .txt files.
Advertisements as PDF files.
Printed by Latrobe Valley Express P/L
21 George Street, Morwell, 3840
All contributions must be received by
the Editor by the 15th day of the month
prior to publication. Contact the Editor
to discuss variation to this date. The
Editor reserves the right of final choice
and format of material included in each
issue. The Gippsland Anglican and the
Editor cannot necessarily verify any
material used in this publication. Views
contained in submitted material are
those of contributors.
Advertising Rates:
$6.80/cm deep/column black & white.
Color is an extra $130.
Contact the Editor in the first instance
for all advertising submissions, cost-
ings and enquiries, including about in-
serts in the newspaper.
For Sale Classifieds:
Parishes can advertise items for
free, for sale at prices up to $100.
Email details to the Editor.
Index
New principal 1
Letters to the editor 2
Vale, Colin Harvey 2
The Bishop writes 3
Faithful families 4
Honoring soldiers 4
Croajingolong parish 5 to 8
Color in picture 9
GFS news 10
Talented writers 11
Perspective 12
Elwyns ministry 13
Clergy news 14
Diocesan calendar 15
Rwandan links 16
Parish news 17
Award winning books 18
Fay writes music 19
Orbost shines 20
Letters to the Editor
Well done, Bishop
Dear Editor,
Please print this letter in
The Gippsland Anglican.
Dear Bishop John,
It is with sadness I see all
the outspoken comments
on your appointment of
gay people in the church
ministry. I feel so much
about the treatment you
are receiving that I wanted
to pen some thoughts of
my own to support you in
this difficult time.
I have been an Anglican
all my long life and it is my
understanding that one of
the fundamentals of our
Christian faith is to love
our neighbour as our-
selves.
While many quote pas-
sages from the bible, I
know it has many contra-
dictions; but to treat a fel-
low human being as an
outcast is surely not our
Christian way?
At the heart of this whole
issue, to me, is what
would Jesus have done in
this circumstance?.
He reached out to those
who were spurned and
outcast as you have
done by including gay
members of our faith in
our leadership.
Surely this is not what
Jesus would have wanted
us all to do?
They are part of our com-
munity; people with faith,
love and integrity. They
know discrimination and
difficult times; and are just
as qualified to help us ex-
perience Gods love as
anyone else.
I have found it very sad
to know that some people
have chosen to leave the
Anglican church on the ex-
cuse that gay people
should not be allowed in
the church leadership.
Surely, tolerance and love
should be paramount on
the road of true Christian
fellowship.
I pray for your strength in
these challenging times
and that the church com-
munity and leadership will
come to understand your
compassion and true
Christian vision for an all-
embracing Anglican fellow-
ship to lead us in the
future.
Thank you for caring
about our whole church
community, not just some.
Yours faithfully,
Grace Gray,
Sale
Aged 96 years.
New instrument
Dear Editor,
I have been the organist
at St Barnabas since the
building was brought from
Bundalaguah to ABeckett
Park in 1990.
The original antique bel-
lows organ came with the
building. It was a rather
ornate pedal organ that
needed to have the bel-
lows replaced.
Reverend Ken Campbell
modified it by replacing
the bellows with a pipe
connection through the
wall of the building to a
vacuum cleaner located
outside; so when it was
switched on, it provided
unlimited air to the organ,
with no peddling required.
This organ lasted for
many years before it be-
came unreliable and was
apt to give unwanted
squawks.
It was followed by several
pre-loved donated organs,
all of which had their own
idiosyncrasies and were in-
clined to fail at the most
inappropriate times.
Now, through a donation
by Mrs Georgina Evans,
made in memory of her
husband, Scott, we have a
new Arius Digital Piano
that has two very nice
Organ voices and other in-
teresting musical sounds.
Its simplicity of settings
will enable it to be played
by others when appropri-
ate.
The new piano was dedi-
cated by Bishop John
McIntyre on July 25, 2012,
when it was first used.
I give thanks for the gen-
erous donation that will
assist in worship at St
Barnabas.
Yours faithfully,
Judy Rennick,
Paynesville.
[Editors note: The dedica-
tion of the organ was re-
ported in The Gippsland
Anglican, August issue.]
Letters to the editor are
welcomed but may be ed-
ited for space and gram-
mar. Letters that are
abusive will not be printed.
The inclusion of letters in
The Gippsland Anglican is
subject to the normal
terms of a newspaper pub-
lication; viz, the views ex-
pressed are the opinion of
the writer and do not nec-
essarily reflect the views of
the editor, the diocese or
the printers.


DANCE AND PRANCE THE NIGHT AWAY

with the

HOSPITAL CREEK BUSH BAND

ST JAMES HALL, ORBOST


Saturday, September 8

Dancing kicks off at 7.30pm
$10 ENTRY

Supper provided, BYO drinks

Enquiries: BEVIL, 5154 1085
ST JAMES
BUSH
DANCE

Vale, Colin
THE earthly life of Colin
Harvey ended on Tuesday,
March 27, three days be-
fore his birthday this year.
As a member of an SEC
family, Colin was born and
raised in Yallourn and was
brother to Ralph and Jan.
From an early age, Ralph,
Colin and Jan attended St
Johns Yallourn. Colin was
always deeply interested in
the teachings of the Church
and he valued the scripture
and sanctity of the wor-
ship.
He trained as a mathe-
matics and science teacher
but lef the Education Department to join the SEC in
1960. Colin worked in several areas, finally joining
the power division. When he retired, he was com-
missioned to write A history of the Yallourn Power
Station. His book was launched the day the SEC
ceased operations.
With the demise of the Yallourn township, Colin re-
located his family to Newborough, where they
joined St Aidans church. He served his church with
enthusiasm, as a lay reader, Rectors Warden, parish
secretary, on Cursillo teams, at Synod and in vari-
ous diocesan activities.
Colin was an active member of the Full Gospel
Business Mens Fellowship, which encouraged his in-
terest in the Charismatic Movement and interchurch
unity. He served in leadership positions and as an
enthusiastic and articulate speaker in Victorian
chapters.
A talented cornetist, Colin acquired a trumpet
which he enjoyed playing hymns and choruses
whenever he could. He loved to sing and lead the
congregation in a wide variety of praise and worship
songs.
To quote the author, Barbara Johnston: Death is
not extinguishing the light: it is turning down the
lamp, because the dawn has come.
Colins family take comfort in these words and the
knowledge he lived his life through his church and
by faith in Jesus, his Lord and Saviour.
Colin William Harvey, March 30, 1934 to March 27,
2012; he is survived by his wife, Annette, and fam-
ily, Tim and Kaye, Carolyn, Kelvin and Ruth, Chris,
Belinda and Cameron Harvey.
Contributor: Annette Harvey
September 2012 Our Diocese - Missions and Ministries 3
The Gippsland Anglican
THE centrepiece of the re-
cent Houston Report is a
proposal to develop an ap-
propriate regional system
to respond to those seeking
asylum and to increase
Australias intake of
refugees from 13,750 to
20,000 a year. This is
something that has been
overlooked in most re-
sponses to the report. This
is unfortunate, because
creating a workable queue
in the region at least stands
some chance of stopping
desperate people getting
onto leaky boats and risk-
ing their lives and the lives
of their families in the hope
of finding asylum.
The reason Australia, dur-
ing the Fraser era [Aus-
tralias prime minister from
1975 to 1983], was able so
successfully to receive
nearly one quarter of a mil-
lion refugees from Indo-
China was precisely
because there was a func-
tional regional system in
place. Unlike today, back
then there was actually a
workable queue.
The real problem with the
Houston Report is that
today the politics around
asylum seekers is so
fraught it is hard to imagine
its centrepiece of a work-
able regional queue will
ever be put in place. There
is so much political point-
scoring going on, no-one
sees the bigger picture.
In the meantime, the im-
mediate outcome of the re-
port is a system full of risk
and danger to asylum seek-
ers, both physically and
psychologically. The interim
achievable measures the
report recommends are es-
sentially a return to the so-
called Pacific Solution of
the Howard era, with the
incarceration of innocent
people out of sight and out
of mind on Nauru and
Manus Island. There is no
limit to how long people will
be held in detention there
and, because they are not
on Australian soil, there will
be little impetus for Aus-
tralia to fulfil its interna-
tional obligations to asylum
seekers, including those in
relation to the rights of chil-
dren.
Furthermore, the interim
measures are unlikely to
put a stop to the tragic re-
cent reality of hundreds of
desperate people drowning
at sea while attempting to
find asylum in Australia.
Those who claim the Pacific
Solution in its time suc-
ceeded in turning the boats
back, forget the greater
reason for the reduction of
boats in that era was the
fall of the Taliban. As Mr
Fraser has recently noted,
the numbers of refugees
going to Europe fell just as
dramatically at the same
time and no country in Eu-
rope had yet introduced the
punitive measures that
Australia introduced.
In his criticism of the
Houston Report, Mr Fraser
comes to the key point by
suggesting if white farmers
from Zimbabwe had fled
persecution to Australia by
boat they would be ac-
cepted. In so doing, he con-
demns the report as racist
and damaging of Australias
international reputation.
Sadly, it is hard to disagree
with him.
It is blight on our nation
that racism is the underly-
ing reason for our inability
to respond more immedi-
ately and with humanity to
the plight of asylum seek-
ers. Those politicians who
would wish to do better for
asylum seekers have their
hands tied by those who
callously exploit the racism
of the electorate for politi-
cal gain. In the meantime,
asylum seekers continue to
board leaky boats if there is
even a whisper of hope of
asylum in Australia. Such is
their desperation.
Let us pray against the
odds that, despite their ob-
vious deficiencies, the new
measures may at least stop
some people from boarding
boats. More importantly, let
us do all we can to defy the
mindless racism blinding us
to the truth.
Let us speak out against
those people who charac-
terise asylum seekers as il-
legal immigrants or play on
our unwarranted fears that
people fleeing persecution
are a threat to us. Let us
dare to believe that show-
ing compassion to asylum
seekers is not a sign of
weakness on our part and
seeking justice for them is
not just political correct-
ness. Above all, let us work
for structural change to cre-
ate an accessible system
that guarantees justice for
asylum seekers seeking
refuge in our land.
By these means, let us be
a sign of hope to these des-
perate people in the name
of Jesus, who, as a small
child himself, with his fam-
ily, sought asylum and
found refuge among those
who were the traditional
enemies of his people. In
this central story of our
faith, where a small Jewish
family finds refuge among
Egyptians, we find the un-
comfortable challenge of
our God to go beyond our
prejudices and to reach out
to those in need, no matter
their creed or tradition.
Pray against the
odds for the truth
Right Reverend John McIntyre
Bishop of Gippsland
Richard Connelly - Lawyer
41 Gladstone Street, Warragul VIC 3820
Tel: (03) 5623 1212 Fax: (03) 8669 4387
E: rconnellylawyer@yahoo.com.au
Web: www.warragullawyers.com.au
























delivering quality legal ser
d Richard
* Family Law
Administration of E
Grant of probate
Drafting and updating wills
ills and Estates W *






vices to W delivering quality legal ser
- Lawyer d Connelly
* Family Law
states Administration of E
Drafting and updating wills
ills and Estates






est Gippsland WWe
- Lawyer





Children
Property Settlement
Divorce
* Family Law






.warragullawyers.com.au eb: www W
connellylawyer@yahoo.com.au E: r
el: (03) 5623 1212 F TTe
eet, W 41 Gladstone Str
ers s matt Children
Property Settlement
* Family Law






.warragullawyers.com.au
connellylawyer@yahoo.com.au
el: (03) 5623 1212 Fax: (03) 8669 4387
arragul VIC 3820 eet, W
today the politics around
asylum seekers is so
fraught ... no-one sees
the bigger picture for a
workable regional queue
4 Our Diocese - Missions and Ministries September 2012
The Gippsland Anglican
JAN Misiurka and Karin
McKenzie attended the
meeting of Mothers Union
Australia Council in May this
year. Karin is the MU Gipp-
sland president and Jan is
an MU Australia executive
member and past Gipps-
land president.
Other attendees were MU
Australia executive mem-
bers and diocesan presi-
dents, spiritual advisors, a
guest speaker and open
day visitors.
Stephen Harrison, from
Queensland, was guest
speaker. He has been work-
ing in full time youth and
childrens ministry for the
past 15 years and is cur-
rently the Director of Mis-
sion for the Anglican
Schools Commission.
Stephen has a passion for
helping young people en-
gage with the bible and the
church and to passionately
live out their faith. Karen
McKenzie writes here about
the session on Faithful Fam-
ilies led by Stephen Harri-
son.
A common question asked
by parents is: Will my chil-
dren have faith? John Wes-
tahoff says this is the wrong
question. Do not dwell on
the question; rather, ask:
Have we been faithful with
our children?. Faith is a gift
from God, so children have
a chance of having faith.
What makes a vibrant
faith? Many ideas were put
forward ... belief and trust,
prayer, enthusiasm, fellow-
ship, absolute conviction,
living, active ... and more
ideas. Stephen suggested
there are three interrelated
facets to faith:
1. Faith is an affair of the
heart involving the emo-
tions and passions.
2. Faith is a commitment
of the mind through know-
ing and trusting.
3. Faith results in good ac-
tions; it is not just internal;
it motivates us to live in a
different way.
Yet, faith is much greater
than the sum of these. Chil-
dren need faith to be tangi-
ble; to see, to feel, to be
natural. Otherwise, they do
not notice it.
Stephen told a story as il-
lustration. Little fish says to
mum: Whats water?
Water is all around you.
Stick your head outside the
pond, responds Mum. In
the family home, our faith
should permeate every-
thing so when the children
go elsewhere they notice
the difference.
Intentionality is impor-
tant; a course of action one
intends to follow, an aim
that directs action. Inten-
tion, stretching towards,
demonstrates we are
reaching to mature the faith
of our children. It does not
just happen, but takes
choice, commitment and
planning.
The National Church Sur-
vey statistics for significant
action and significant peo-
ple in the development of
faith in Protestant and An-
glican churches are as fol-
lows: children under 10
years, parents 75 per cent
influential, Sunday school
less significant; children
aged 10 to 20 years, par-
ents 49 per cent influential,
greater than the minister or
church service.
Families are the greatest
influence on the faith life of
children. Young people
value family relationships.
However, many mainline
church families no longer
pray, read the bible or talk
to God, or do these things
only in church.
Families have always been
diverse and messy; they
change. There is no perfect
time or family. What they
do is more important than
their structure.
Some of the key issues
facing families today in-
clude the sexualisation of
children; absent fathers;
effects of technology; work,
financial and time pres-
sures; divorce; lack of
faith; individualism, offer-
ing no clear picture of fam-
ily, lifestyle, employment or
vocation; frozen bloke ef-
fect; outsourcing of repro-
duction. Where is the
church in all this and what
are we doing?
Parenthood is a high call-
ing in scripture, so parents
need to be intentional in
their practice of parenting.
Parents must give what
they have, trusting God for
the outcome and not abro-
gate their responsibility to
others. Families need sup-
port and the church can
help. [Deuteronomy 4:6-9,
Proverbs 22:6, Psalm 78,
Exodus 18:20, Isaiah
54:13.]
It seems like children have
faith, but they lose it. Fam-
ilies are critical to their chil-
drens faith journey.
Vatican II, Constitution of
Church, stated: The family
is, so to speak, the domes-
tic church. In it parents
should, by their word and
example, be the first
preachers of faith to their
children.
What can families do in-
tentionally?
1. Story: scripture, your
own story, the childs story,
stories of faith. Stories are
central to who people think
they are. Movies and songs
tells stories. Who is telling
the stories in your family?
2. Ritual: family practices
and habits, scripture and
prayer, seasonal celebra-
tions, rites of passage, fam-
ily sharing time. A saying:
Do something once and it is
an event, do it twice and it
is an experience, do it three
times and it is an expecta-
tion, keep doing it and it is
a practice.
3. Service: this has a mas-
sive impact on children; for
example, the whole family
being involved in service in-
side or outside the church.
4. Closeness: spending
time together at mealtime,
on holiday, weekly fun
night, story, game, share,
pray.
The church can make a
shift from having the pri-
mary role to a supporting
role by educating parents,
intergenerational bible
studies, resourcing, ideas,
and more. Young families
need to be able to do fam-
ily. Soft sell makes a dif-
ference.
Stephen was a vibrant
speaker and Mothers Union
members can look forward
to reading more of his ideas
in future copies of the MU
magazine, Mia Mia; avail-
able through your nearest
MU branch or the MU Mia
Mia coordinator, Jan Misi-
urka, telephone 03 5127
1879 or email
jasmis@iprimus.com.au
Mothers Union is hosting
an evening family forum
with adolescent psycholo-
gist, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg,
on October 9 at St Pauls
Anglican Grammar School,
Traralgon. Contact 03 5134
1356 or 03 5156 1949.
V
alley
F
uneral
L
atrobe
S
ervices
J Qualified, experienced
and caring staff
J Modern chapels
J Refreshments and catering
facilities available
J Secure, guaranteed, pre-paid
and pre-arranged funeral
plans
J Over 70 years of service
to the Latrobe Valley
MORWELL 5134 4937
MOE 5126 1111
TRARALGON 5174 2258
Owned and operated by
Paul and Katrina McInnes
Proud member of the
Australian Funeral Directors
Association and the Australian and
British Institutes of Embalming
MARK
RIDDLE
Consultant
JOHN
GALBRAITH
Consultant
PAUL
McINNES
Director
2002900
VP Day at Bairnsdale
VP Day (Victory in the Pa-
cific) was celebrated on Au-
gust 12 at St Johns
Bairnsdale. This service has
become a yearly event, to-
gether with the RSL and
Bairnsdale Primary School
Choir.
Two Australian Army Re-
serve cadets, Josh Fielding
and Graham Pickering, car-
ried the flags into the
church which were then re-
ceived back into the War-
riors Chapel by Reverend
Tony Wicking (above).
There was a good congre-
gation and the singing was
enhanced by 20 young
voices, especially when the
choir sang the ANZAC Song
while people lined up to
light candles in memory of
loved ones.
Speakers were the RSL
president and a member of
the police force who spoke
about his involvement tak-
ing a group of local Aborig-
inal youth to walk the
Kokoda Trek.
The group toured the Mel-
bourne Shrine of Remem-
brance as part of their
preparation. He has hopes
for a great future for these
young people.
One of this group, Travis
Blackburn, spoke in detail
about what the experience
of preparing for and partic-
ipating in the Kokoda Trek
meant to him. He felt it had
changed his thinking; also
that all the group had found
the memorial service in a
village close to the trail
very emotional and enlight-
ening.
Travis is 20 years old and
working as a park ranger
and is studying for a degree
at university.
Members of the choir read
two bible readings and also
spoke of their personal ex-
periences at the school
camp in Portsea and what a
great time they experi-
enced. A special collection
was taken for this worth-
while project. The service
finished with the playing of
the Last Post and Reveille.
Contributor/Photo:
Ursula Plunkett
MU and faithful families
September 2012 Our Diocese - Jesus Christ Here and Now for Croajingolong parish 5
The Gippsland Anglican
By Jeanette Severs
THE County of Croajingo-
long, or Croajingalong as it
is also known, is one of the
37 counties of Victoria
which are part of the cadas-
tral divisions of Australia,
used for land titles. It is the
most easterly county and
includes the Croajingolong
National Park. Its western
boundary is the Snowy
River. The county was pro-
claimed in 1871 together
with others from the Gipps-
land district. Some earlier
maps showed proposed
counties of Howe and
Combermere occupying the
area of Croajingolong.
Croajingolong parish is
spread among the small
towns of Mallacoota, Genoa
and Cann River. It was orig-
inally part of the Orbost
parish, established in 1884.
Before it became part of
Gippsland diocese, it was
most likely serviced on oc-
casion by travelling minis-
ters from the Maneroo (or
Monaro) parish. The Cann
River parish was formed in
about 1910.
Mallacoota, the main cen-
tre of Croajingolong parish,
is a small town in the East
Gippsland region of the dio-
cese. At the 2006 census,
Mallacoota had a population
of 972 people. At holiday
times, particularly Easter
and Christmas, the popula-
tion increases by about
8,000.
Mallacoota is one of the
most isolated towns in the
state of Victoria, 25 kilome-
tres off the Princes High-
way; it is 523 kilometres
from Melbourne, Victoria
and 526 kilometres from
Sydney, New South Wales.
The church in Mallacoota,
St Peters, with cooperating
congregations, was built on
land owned by the Anglican
church.
St Peters Mallacoota pro-
vides a weekly Sunday
morning service for the An-
glican and Uniting congre-
gations. St Colmans
Catholic community attend
5pm Sunday and Thursday
morning services. St Peters
provides services at Christ-
mas and Easter , for locals,
tourists and campers, ecu-
menical services at Ash
Wednesday, Easter (Good
Friday) and Carols at
Christmas and assist in
leadership of ANZAC serv-
ices at dawn and 11am, on
Remembrance Day and for
special RSL services.
An annual Scripture Union
Family Mission is held be-
tween Christmas and New
Year, for holiday campers
staying in Mallacoota; along
with an annual Scripture
Union THEOS mission to
teenagers and young
adults.
There is a weekly mainly
music program with the
local Assembly of God and
support from the Catholic
community, which has been
operating since 2010. Other
outreach services include
funerals and community
memorial services, home
group bible studies, a BCA
mission weekend and St
Peters Op Shop.
Genoa is on the Princes
Highway where the traveller
turns off for Mallacoota. It
is close to the New South
Wales border where the
highway crosses the Genoa
river. The town is an impor-
tant access point to the
Croajingolong National
Park. At the 2006 census,
Genoa and the surrounding
area had a population of
304 people. The Genoa Post
Office opened on April 9,
1888.
In 1972, the earliest fossil
trackway of primitive
tetrapods were found in the
Genoa River Gorge, dating
back 350 million years.
The Genoa hall, both past
and present, has been the
location for services, funer-
als and weddings and con-
tinues to offer regular
Sunday worship, on the
second Sunday of the
month. The small congre-
gation is also involved with
activities at St Peters Mal-
lacoota.
Cann River is at the west-
ern end of the parish and is
a town located on the Cann
River at the junction of the
Princes Highway and
Monaro Highway. At the
2006 census, Cann River
had a population of 223
people.
Cann River is close to Lind
National Park, Coopracam-
bra National Park and Croa-
jingolong National Park and
is a popular rest stop for
travellers between Mel-
bourne and Sydney using
the Princes Highway route.
The Post Office opened on
July 1, 1890.
At Cann River, the Church
of St John the Evangelist
offers services for the An-
glican and Uniting congre-
gations on most Sundays of
the month. It also provides
funerals and community
memorial services and
hosts a BCA mission week-
end. Outreach includes
home bible study groups.
An op shop operated for
many years on the church
site, but has now closed.
The lych gate at the
church is dedicated to the
memory of the pioneers,
Robert Martin, John Sack-
field and Edith Reece.
Robert Martin was the first
clergyman appointed to Or-
bost parish when it included
Croajingolong. Edith Reece
had a considerable history
with Cann River (see sec-
tion: Womens ministry in
Croajingolong).
Places other than Cann
River, Genoa and Malla-
coota at which services
were held have included
Club Terrace, Combienbar,
Road Camp CRB, Wangra-
belle, Gipsy Point, Cabbage
Tree, Noorinbee, Noorinbee
North, Wallagaraugh and
into New South Wales.
In the past decade, Angli-
can ministry in the parish
has been provided by Rev-
erend Elwyn Sparks, Rev-
erend Graham Knott and,
currently, in an honorary
locum capacity by Reverend
Roger Jackman. Reverend
Greg Jones, of Bush Church
Aid, has regularly spent
time in the parish in recent
years, supporting the min-
istry of the BCA and Angli-
can ministries.
BCA and
Croajingolong
IN 1920, Bishop George
Harvard Cranswick of the
Anglican Diocese of Gipps-
land, invited the newly
formed Bush Church Aid to
the region; and so a nurse
and a deaconess set up
headquarters at Cann River.
About this time, he went to
England and recruited six
men for a bush brother-
hood, deaconesses and
nursing sisters and Miss
Edith Myvanney Reece.
On Bishop Cranswicks in-
vitation, Bishop Sydney J
Kirkby, Bush Church Aus-
tralia Organising Missioner,
travelled by rail from Syd-
ney to Nimmitabel, then
caught a bus for the 54 mile
journey through Bombala
to Delegate; then walked
SUBSCRIPTION
to The Gippsland Anglican
Get The Gippsland Anglican posted direct to you
Name ......................................................................
Address ..................................................................
.................................................................................
Telephone ...............................................................
Yes, I would like a one year postal subscription to The Gipps-
land Anglican, costing $27.50. I enclose a cheque/postal
order, made out to the Anglican Diocese of Gippsland.
Send to TGA subscriptions, Anglican Diocese of Gippsland,
PO Box 928, Sale, 3850. Enquiries, telephone 03 5144 2044.
A unique parish
ABOVE: Christmas angels in Mallacoota, conceived by Reverend Graham Knott, created
by local school children and made as wooden structures by local craftspeople; they are
erected throughout the public space surrounding the church at Christmas time.
Photo: Graham Knott
continued next page
6 Our Diocese - Jesus Christ Here and Now for Croajingolong parish September 2012
The Gippsland Anglican
from previous page
or, when possible, accepted
a lift through to Bendoc and
Cann River.
He held services and
taught the faith wherever
he went, staying in family
homes, distributing litera-
ture. At Genoa, a place of
four farms and a pub, peo-
ple gathered in the dining
room for worship.
Bishop Kirkby also visited
the lakes at Croajingolong
and Mallacoota. He rode
there from Cann River on a
borrowed horse and found
just a few dwellings and de-
clared it a place of excep-
tional beauty and that it
would make a wonderful
holiday resort, which it
has. Sunday services at
Tonghi and weeknight serv-
ices at Combienbar were
spendidly attended. Road-
making camps and mining
huts were also visited.
In all places there was
unmistakable evidence of
spiritual need. There is no
shame of face or diffidence
in talking religion. The topic
is natural, he wrote in his
diary.
Bishop Kirkby recom-
mended a mobile ministry
composed of keen and ac-
tive men who will go out to
specialise in personal evan-
gelism and pastoral work
free to go where they are
needed.
So began a remarkable
ministry. By 1925, the
parish, centred on Cann
River traditionally but more
recently on Mallacoota,
hosted a nursing sister, a
deaconess and Miss Edith
Reece. They lived in tents in
harsh and foreign sur-
roundings and ministered
to the medical and spiritual
needs of the sparse and
widely-scattered popula-
tion.
With its isolated setting so
far from Melbourne and
Sydney, the area was char-
acterised by tall timber and
forestry in the hills as well
as dairy and farming on the
rich and fertile river flats.
These industries have now
declined but in those days
brought many individuals
and families to the region,
people in need of medical
support and a place to wor-
ship and come to know God
in a deeper way.
BCA was able to partner
with Gippsland diocese and
provide some assistance
across the years. The Cann
River Bush Clinic, set in
place by BCA Field Staff in
the 1920s, continues today
as a modern, locally run
and State government sup-
ported medical post. BCA
was also able to provide
clergy stipends until 1957.
They also supported the
Mail Bag Sunday school
(1920 to 1923) developed
by Deaconess Winifred
Shoobridge.
The basic ministry strat-
egy set in place by Bishop
Kirkby and Bishop Cran-
swick involved coupling of
medical ministry with spiri-
tual support. This led to
Bishop Cranswick sending
out Deaconesses and
Nurses as working teams
and the setting up of bush
clinics, with the occasional
support from a clergyman
to foster church activities.
The travelling van min-
istries, usually staffed with
two women or two men and
occasionally a married cou-
ple, fostered work with the
isolated people. Many
women and children found
faith and spiritual nurture
from these teams. It was all
part of the foundational
ministries of BCA in the
early days.
The early years in Croajin-
golong were important
years for BCA that set the
tone or missional DNA in
place for many years to fol-
low and in places across the
breadth of Australia. Croa-
jingalong began a co-oper-
ating ministry in 1969, with
provision for the ministry to
alternate every three years
between the Anglican and
(then) Methodist churches.
At the time, the parsonage,
or Manse, was located at
Noorinbee, about 80 kilo-
metres from Orbost and
more than 10 kilometres
from Cann River.
There were six centres in
the parish. Cann River was
a timber town, with about
300 residents at the time.
Noorinbee is a dairy and
beef district in the Cann
Valley, with then about 100
residents. Mallacoota was
and remains a tourist town,
with then about 600 resi-
dents.
Genoa, another cattle dis-
trict, had about 100 resi-
dents. Club Terrace, then a
timber settlement in the
rainforest, had about 100
residents. Combienbar, a
timber settlement, was
very isolated, with about
100 residents.
Reverend Barry Rainsford
was the Anglican incumbent
living at Cann River from
1976. He wrote that some-
one reported on a typical
Sunday the minister started
off at St Johns Cann River
wearing Anglican robes, be-
fore changing to an aca-
demic gown at Noorinbee
Uniting Church. In the af-
ternoon he wore a suit in
the Genoa hall and at night
he wore nothing .
Rev. Rainsford also re-
ported Bishop Graeme Del-
bridge paid regular visits to
the parish, staying at least
a couple of days each time
in order to participate in the
parish routine.
ABOVE: Reverend Sydney J
Kirkby, of BCA, walking from Ben-
doc to Cann River, November,
1920.
ABOVE right: Sydney J Kirkby
telling a wayside bible story, wth
a picture roll. W Fleming (BCA) in
front of van. Cann River area,
circa 1925 (photo: Mrs M Wheat-
land, 1999, daughter of W Flem-
ing).
RIGHT: Service in the bush
(photo from Mrs Wheatland).
Photos: BCA
September 2012 Our Diocese - Jesus Christ Here and Now for Croajingolong parish 7
The Gippsland Anglican
from previous page
Croajingolong parish is a
co-operating parish with
the Uniting church. During
the time of Graeme and
June Knott in the middle
years of the past decade,
there was some very signif-
icant growth in numbers,
community engagement,
spiritual depth and biblical
understanding.
During that time, a local
man was encouraged to go
into ministry and now a few
years later, he is ordained
and offering ministry in a
significant way.
The most recent BCA in-
cumbent was Reverend
Rowena Harris, a Uniting
Church in Australia Frontier
Services appointee, who
moved in May this year to
Orbost. Reverend Roger
Jackman is currently hon-
orary locum of Croajingo-
long parish for the interim
period.
Womens ministry
in Croajingalong
BISHOP George Harvard
Cranswick envisioned the
ordination of women and
recruited women to live in
the remote, largely unex-
plored, forest areas and
outposts and sawmilling
towns of East Gippsland,
especially Croajingolong
parish. Bishop Cranswick
was a young family man
and the isolation experi-
enced by the pioneers and
their families, particularly
the women, weighed heav-
ily on his heart, according
to reports.
As already mentioned, he
sent out Deaconesses and
Nurses as working teams
and he supported setting
up bush clinics in the iso-
lated areas of Gippsland,
particularly far east Gipps-
land. They had the occa-
sional support from a
clergyman to foster church
activities.
The Church News of De-
cember 1918 reported on
the first deaconesses re-
cruited for Gippsland: A
Bush Deaconess! What is
she, and what does she do?
The simplest answer is that
she is a woman missionary,
going about among the iso-
lated English speaking fam-
ilies, reminding them of
their early home training
before they went so far
back in the bush, and
teaching the little ones
who, for want of Sunday
schools and church serv-
ices, are so often growing
up ignorant of the Saviour
Who died for them. Dr
Cranswick, Bishop of Gipps-
land, realising the needs of
those living in the outlying
parts of his diocese, is
sending a Bush Deaconess
to help in whatever way a
trained woman worker can.
The role included medical
and spiritual aid, preparing
people for confirmation,
leading meetings of moth-
ers and girls, teaching Sun-
day school, providing
Christian literature, prepar-
ing and leading church
services of morning and
evening prayer, conducting
funerals and baptisms, pre-
siding over parochial coun-
cil meetings and, on the
occasion a clergyman was
visiting, assisting him in
performing his duties. She
would also assist a visiting
bishop or archdeacon by
serving at Holy Communion
and reading the Gospel.
Miss Edith Reece, an Eng-
lishwoman recruited to be
an Anglican deaconess,
served in Cann River from
1925 to 1933. She was a
gentlewoman already aged
in her middle years and of
independent means. She
rode many long distances
on bicycle or horse in her
commitment to minister to
the sick, troubled and iso-
lated folk; often encounter-
ing women who had not
spoken to another woman
for many months.
She took the church serv-
ices at Bemm River and
Mallacoota and organised a
circulating library for the
bush families.
The books were collected
by BCA supporters and sent
by ship to Eden from Syd-
ney or Melbourne; and then
by motor vehicle to Cann
River, where Miss Reece
saw to the distribution.
Miss Reece gave the
money to build St Johns
Cann River in 1928. The
dedication explains the
church was erected by
Edith M Reece, in memory
of Mary Anne and Gwendo-
line Mary Reece (her
mother and sister).
In 1930, she returned to
England to visit her family
but came back to Cann
River in 1932, bringing Sis-
ter Bazett. They settled at
Cann River in a cottage on
a property along the Cann
Valley Highway (now
Monaro Highway).
Miss Reece conducted her
last service at Cann River
on June 26, 1933 and re-
turned to England that year.
She died in England during
World War II.
Miss Edith Reece also
gave, through her estate,
100 towards building a
church in Mallacoota; this
was part of the funds to
build St Peters Mallacoota
in 1973. Mrs Edith Cole, of
Mallacoota, a founding
member of St Peters, was
given the honor of opening
the doors on the day the
church was consecrated.
Sister Ivy Gwynne gave 17
years of service in the
parish and was the longest
serving nurse from BCA at
Cann River, from 1940 to
1962. Sister Gwynne was
highly respected for her
nursing skills and for her
strong Christian witness.
In 1977, incumbent Rev-
erend Barry Rainsford col-
lated a list of those
ministering to the people in
Cann River; he included
Sister Gwynne as a church
leader between 1942 to
1955 and in 1958.
LEFT: At the blessing of the
Winifred Shoobridge Mothers'
Union Van, Sister Winifred Holton,
Deaconess Rodgers, Deaconess
Payne, Miss Eileen Ellis, GC Love-
grove, CB Alexander, DB Black-
wood and WE Spencer.
Deaconess Shoobridge was or-
dained in Sydney on July 25, 1917
and invited not long after, by
Bishop Cranswick, to undertake
ministry in Gippsland, licensing
her in December 1918.
Deaconess Shoobridge had the
task of contacting families living in
the bush. She recorded every
visit, noting the name of every
child and individual characteristics
that would help her in her inter-
cessions. Bush women would
greet her with pleasure.
She made links with Mothers'
Union in England and encouraged
women to correspond with each
other. She visited with literature
for the women and children. By
1920, there were 16 MU groups in
Gippsland.
ABOVE: Sister Bazett outside St
John's Cann River, 1930.
RIGHT: The beginning of the Med-
ical Service in Cann River.
FAR right: Sydney J Kirkby and
Miss Edith Reece outside her tent
home at Cann River, circa 1925.
Photos: BCA
BELOW right: Sister Ivy Gwynne, Cann River, was the
longest serving nurse from Bush Church Aid, from
1940 to 1962. She was highly respected and valued,
for her nursing skills and her strong christian witness.
continued next page
8 Our Diocese - Jesus Christ Here and Now for Croajingolong parish September 2012
The Gippsland Anglican
from previous page
Mrs Harriet Connley
served in the Croajingalong
area from 1934 to 1936 as
the nursing sister with BCA,
based in Cann River. She
travelled by bicycle, horse,
borrowed buggy, fish truck
or butcher cart to see peo-
ple in Mallacoota, Wangra-
belle, Genoa, Combienbar,
Club Terrace, Bellbird, Cann
River and Noorinbee.
Mrs Connley also helped
the vicar with church serv-
ices, played the organ and
taught Sunday school.
My nursing skills at first
were slight, as I was just
out of training school, but in
time I could adapt to treat-
ing anything with confi-
dence and helpfulness, Mrs
Connley wrote in memoir.
She treated one patient
gored by a bull 100 miles
from a doctor; another pa-
tient 90 years old with
acute pneumonia who re-
fused to give up smoking
her long clay pipe; another
who chopped her leg with
an axe and I had to sew it
without painkillers.
The doctor was 50 miles
away in Orbost, contactable
by telephone that was sel-
dom working as the wires
were strung on trees. How-
ever, we were able to give
very satisfactory service.
Sister Dorothy Allmond
was not without some vigor
in looking after the people
of Croajingalong. An Eng-
lish newspaper clipping of
January 5, 1924, tells the
story of a woman whose life
depended on urgent med-
ical attention. Sister
Dorothy rode a horse from
Cann River to Bemm River,
a distance of 40 miles, in
five hours. She organised
eight men to carry the
woman on a stretcher in a
fierce storm along a 16
miles bush track to Bellbird,
with Sister Dorothy provid-
ing medical aid. They were
met at Bellbird by a doctor
from Orbost.
On another occasion,
when Bishop Cranswick was
visiting Cann River, Sister
Dorothy persuaded him to
ride horseback to a bush
hut to help her set a mans
thigh.
Using the bush telegraph,
Sister Dorothy would find
out when a doctor was trav-
elling through the region
and organised groups of
people to receive roadside
medical treatment along
the highway route.
An extract from the
Evening Sun of that period
described Sister Dorothy,
who had served in World
War I, as one whose name
is forever written in pure
gold.
From 1954 to 1957, serv-
ices and ministry at Cann
River was led by Deaconess
LS Luck. She was followed
by Deaconess Payne.
Deaconess Sheila Payne
came to Gippsland in 1947,
serving in Traralgon and
Yarram parishes before she
was appointed Minister in
Charge of the Cann River
parish. She had a great love
of the bush and people who
lived there and exercised
ministry in the isolated dis-
trict from 1959 to 1964.
Deaconess Winifred Shoo-
bridge also visited Croajin-
golong and found herself
teaching Sunday school in a
dugout at Cabbage Tree.
She thought there must be
a better way for the chil-
dren to learn. She con-
ceived administering the
Mail Bag Sunday school, in
a similar scheme to one of-
fered in Canada. By 1920,
34 senior papers and 112
junior papers were being
sent out by mail each
month. By 1958, nearly
2000 subscribers were en-
rolled. The Mail Bag Sunday
school closed in the 1990s.
The Brotherhood
THE Brotherhood of St
John the Evangelist, adopt-
ing a program delivered at
Longreach, in Queensland,
was the dream of Bishop
Cranswick to provide clergy
across the diocese and par-
ticularly in the more remote
regions. The foundation
men were recruited in Eng-
land in 1920 by Bishop
Cranswick, under the usual
brotherhood obligations of
economy, celibacy and obe-
dience.
Their pattern of work was
to alternate a few months
of training in Sale with a
few months of work, in
pairs, in the bush, with the
expectation they would
eventually be ordained.
They served mainly in East
Gippsland.
In Croajingalong, more
than 50 children were bap-
tised by the brothers in a
short space of time, many
prepared for confirmation
and services were fort-
nightly or monthly at a
dozen locations.
The brothers used a van
drawn by two horses for
transport; called the vic-
arage on wheels. Eventu-
ally, Australian men were
inducted into the brother-
hood.
December, 1922, The Vic-
arage on Wheels, Croajin-
galong: Camping and
travelling between each lit-
tle group of settlers and the
visiting of lonely families
isolated by distance from
their neighbours, demands
every ounce of energy from
man and beast. For three
months life has been lived
under canvas. A central
store, or dump, was badly
needed. At last an ideal
place was discovered a
shingle roofed building, va-
cant but for swagmen it is
our home, church and
store. The few families liv-
ing nearby make an effort
to attend [services], bring-
ing their little ones with
them even on a dark and
wet night by the light of a
hurricane lamp there is
here real inspiration and
worship.
Unfortunately, most men
did not seek ordination and
the venture was admitted a
failure by Bishop Cranswick
to Synod in 1924.
Sources: Reverend Canon
Brian Roberts, former BCA
National Director and Hon-
orary Archivist.
Elliot, R (1996) The Dea-
conesses of Gippsland.
The Gippsland Anglican,
February 2009 & May 2010
Australian Bureau of Statis-
tics website
Maddern, IT (1977) Light &
Life: A history of the Angli-
can church in Gippsland.
Gibson, E (ed.) (2002)
Great Faithfulness: A cente-
nary publication of the dio-
cese of Gippsland 1902
2002.
ABOVE: At St John's Cann River with Bishop John McIn-
tyre recently are (back) Ian Quick, Val Mitchell, Jean
Knox, Sharon Kalz, Max Kalz, (front) John Colman, Kay
Henderson, Anna (absent: Beau). On the upper left is the
picture of the last supper that draws the eye on entering
the church.
Photo: Roger Jackman
Covenanting Congregations
IN Victoria, covenanting covers a range of relationships;
between congregations, between parishes and between
clergy. Both metropolitan and country churches are in-
volved. Some covenants are longstanding; others have
been developed much more recently. The Trinity Declara-
tion and Code of Practice between Anglican and Uniting
Churches provides guidelines and ongoing support for co-
operating congregations.
In Gippsland, Churchill cooperating parish is between
three traditions, Anglican, Uniting and Church of Christ.
Here the Anglican church is used and the Uniting church
provides the manse.
At Mallacoota, Croajingolong cooperating parish has
three cooperating congregations, Anglican, Catholic and
Uniting churches. A community church was built on the
Anglican site, raising problems of how other churches put
money on to this site.
Boolarra-Yinnar cooperating parish and Neerim South
and District cooperating parish are also in Gippsland. Both
currently have Uniting Church clergy.
Westernport parish, at the western end of Gippsland dio-
cese, also recently took on the responsibility of minister-
ing to the local Uniting church congregation as well.
Bruthen parish has for many years, in agreement with
the Presbytery of Gippsland, supported a Uniting church
congregation at St Matthews Anglican Church in Bruthen.
It also provided the church for use by the local Catholic
faithful.
The Presbytery of Gippsland covers approximately one
fifth of Victoria and extends from Koo Wee Rup and Lang
Lang in the west through to Croajingolong in the far east;
and from Philip Island and the Bass Coast in the south to
the Victorian High Country in the north. It is the only area
in Victoria where the people are known by the same
name, Gippslanders. The only ecosystem missing from
our area is a desert; otherwise Gippsland really does have
it all.
The Presbytery of Gippsland has 28 parishes, making ap-
proved specified ministry placements for 29 people; some
part-time, some parishes being linked for shared ministry
purposes.
The Presbytery includes 82 congregations and two faith
communities. Chaplaincies in the Presbytery include Ful-
ham Correctional Centre, Monash University (ecumenical)
and the RAAF Base East Sale .
The Presbytery has formed a partnership with Frontier
Services to provide ministry in the Orbost parish, in the
Omeo-Swifts Creek parish and in the Croajingolong coop-
erating parish. It shares ministry in the growth corridor
between Pakenham and Drouin with the Presbytery of Port
Phillip East.
Within the Presbytery, there are a number of cooperat-
ing Parishes: Neerim South co-operating parish, Boolarra-
Yinnar parish and Croajingolong parish are all Anglican
and Uniting church congregations; the co-operating
churches in Churchill are UCA, Anglican and Churches of
Christ congregations.
There are also 11 congregations with a covenanted
agreement or arrangement to share in, offer to or receive
ministry or hospitality from other denominations: Angli-
can, Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran and Presbyterian.
The Presbytery includes within its borders the campsites
of Lake Tyers camp and caravan park in the east and
Grantville Lodge in the west.
Gippsland Home Mission Fund:
Gippslanders helping Gippslanders
THE Gippsland Home Mission Fund (GHMF) is a fund es-
tablished by Gippsland Anglican Diocese to raise funds
from parishes and individuals to support ministry in the
more isolated areas of the diocese. Parishes to benefit
from the fund in recent years include Boolarra/Yinnar,
Bruthen, Croajingolong, Omeo, Orbost, Moe, Paynesville
and Neerim South. The fund also helps support special
ministries for the Aboriginal and Sudanese communities
in the diocese.
Administered by Bishop in Council, the fund is a way of
sharing resources particularly with communities where
there is a need for the face of the church to remain. It is
a visible sign of hope in difficult times.
October is the month when parishes and individuals are
encouraged to give generously in support of the fund.
ABOVE: A service at St Peters Mallacoota to thank emer-
gency service volunteers and workers.
September 2012 Our Diocese - Children, Family and Youth Ministries 9
The Gippsland Anglican
By Dr Belinda Garth
WHEN asked what I do
for work, I invariably have
a selection of titles from
which to choose: social sci-
entist, qualitative re-
searcher and occasionally
university lecturer and
tutor. The majority of my
work of late has been as a
mother of three beautiful
boys, aged one, three and
five years. For this article, I
will replace my mummy hat
with my professional one.
I graduated with a Bache-
lor of Health Science (Hon-
ors) and went on to
complete my PhD, where in
the process I taught sub-
jects in sociology of health
and research methods in
health sciences.
One component of my
teaching was getting stu-
dents to wrap their heads
around theoretical perspec-
tives in health sociology,
one of them being post-
modernism, which assumes
no single reality or univer-
sal truth.
Whats true for you is
true for you and whats true
for me is true for me. This
was taught in the context of
a range of social theories
that try to explain and un-
derstand social life. To me,
this theory was akin to
catching clouds.
But, from time to time, I
found myself in conversa-
tion with people who
aligned with postmodernity
and were happy to pick as-
pects of various faiths or
philosophies, that suited
them, and live according to
those principles.
This was quite different to
how I approach my faith,
which I believe is based on
reason and evidence (given
the evidence, it is more
reasonable than not to con-
clude that God exists and
that Jesus is the Son of
God). Regarding universal
truth, either God is there or
He is not.
There cannot be two
truths in this instance.
There can be different per-
ceptions or interpretations,
yes, but not different
truths. Granted, I had a few
interesting conversations.
Being a follower of Jesus
Christ undergirds every-
thing I do in the workplace,
including how I treat others
and being truthful in log-
ging my hours. My recent
work has mostly involved
interviewing participants for
a research project (related
to how same-day appoint-
ments are managed in gen-
eral practice), analysing
data from transcripts and
writing up results in the
form of research papers
(for publication in peer re-
viewed journals).
No faith-workplace chal-
lenges there! If anything,
this work compliments my
faith, since I have the op-
portunity to connect with
people and identify very
specific areas of life and so-
ciety that can be improved
to benefit people.
I once worked with a
Christian academic in Los
Angeles who encouraged us
to pray together before
meetings and share grace
before lunch; this was work
and faith intersecting in a
positive way.
It was not until I had chil-
dren that I had to make de-
cisions about where to
spend most of my time.
How could I best honor God
at home and at work? What
was the right balance for
me and my family, at this
stage in our lives?
The world of academia can
be diverse and while it has
certainly allowed me flexi-
bility to work from home on
a casual basis, what comes
with academia is the exces-
sive quest for publications
to prove ones worth in re-
search and to climb high
up the academic tree.
While I see nothing wrong
with progressing in my ca-
reer (and I hope to do so,
to some degree, when our
children are in school), I did
not think it should be done
at the expense of my young
family.
So, how does my faith in-
form what I do at work? It
provides me with some per-
spective about what is re-
ally important: family,
people, integrity, truth,
compassion. While I do
enjoy my work, my value
and my worth are first
found in God.
Color in picture: follow Jesus
No Turning Back
You do not want to leave too, do you? Jesus asked the
Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we
go? You have the words of eternal life. John 6:67-68 (NIV)
Match the words in the box with the correct definition.
ETERNAL DISCIPLES BELIEVE TEACHING
HARD FOLLOW LEAVE TURN
1. The original followers of Jesus
2. To reverse directions
3. To accept as true or real
4. Difficult to understand, accomplish, or finish
5. To come after; to go behind someone
6. Sharing knowledge with others
7. To go away from; depart; abandon or forsake
8. Continuing forever

Copyright: www.sermons4kids.com
Christianity and the workplace
Puzzles
Maze
10 Our Diocese - Children, Family and Youth Ministries September 2012
The Gippsland Anglican
AT the end of last term, collection tubs
were overflowing with pencils, books and
all types of stationery from each of the 19
classrooms at St Gabriels school, Traral-
gon. Materials were collected to support a
local charity, the Bor Orphanage Project,
working towards establishing a school for
orphaned children of Bor in South Sudan.
The school community recently heard
about this project and invited its project
team members to speak to the students.
The staff and students were so moved by
their story, St Gabriels decided to partici-
pate in this worthy cause through a school
wide collection of stationary supplies. The
materials were formally handed across to
project team leaders at an assembly
(above).
A locally based Sudanese, Reverend Abra-
ham Maluk of Moe parish, returned to his
home town of Bor for a visit after a 23 year
exile. He found a situation that is common
in Sudan, a village almost without adults.
Nearly 60 children were trying to build a
school and teach the younger children.
The mud and grass huts they were build-
ing leaked with water and when the rains
came, the buildings washed away. The chil-
dren would build and rebuild. They wrote
with sticks in the hard ground but they
were enthusiastic, according to Rev. Abra-
ham.
He believes the Bor project is investing
in the children and this will create a more
positive future for the area. He is happy to
talk to schools and different organisations
about the project.
The governing body of Bor has given this
registered charity a parcel of land to assist
in its endeavor to raise money to build the
school. (For more information, please ex-
plore its website www.bororphanage.com)
Article first published in Catholic Life, Au-
gust 2012; reprinted with permission.
From children to children
ON Sunday, August 19, at
Newborough, five new GFS
members were welcomed
during the morning worship
service at St Aidens. Nya-
pany, Nyaration, Simone,
Nyabhan and Georgia are
regular worshippers at St
Aidans and join in the ac-
tivities at Moe GFS Kid-
splus+.
Father Fred Morrey pre-
sented the certificates and
membership badges to the
girls, watched on by St
Aidans congregation and
visitors from Moe parish
supporting the girls.
Photo: Matthew Prosser
Contributor: Mary Nicholls
A SOUP and hot dog lunch
was enjoyed after the fifth
Sunday combined worship
at Moe. During the service,
several new members of
GFS were welcomed by the
congregation.
Families remained after
lunch to watch the movie,
Cool Runnings, which fit-
tingly supported our
Olympic theme during this
term. Our Sudanese chil-
dren, in particular, enjoy
these Sunday fellowship
times after combined wor-
ship.
The parish celebrated a
number of occasions re-
cently including the annual
Winter progressive dinner,
attended by 30 people; and
the St James Day Patronal
Festival at Hill End, which
was also followed by lunch
in the hall.
The parishs Angels
Treasures opportunity shop
is going from strength to
strength in its new location
in Fowler Street. Easily ac-
cessible for visitors and do-
nation drop offs, we are
GFS active girls
LEFT: Bishop John McIntyre and
Reverend Greg Magee officiated
at a comfirmation service at St
Augustines in August. Three chil-
dren were confirmed, from a
young family that worships with
the congregation at Newhaven.
The parents are Cathy and Kevin
Woollen and the children are
Sam (right), Jackson (back) and
Grace (back). They are with their
young sister, Ruby, (front) and
grandmothers Joyce and Shirley.
Joyce, Shirley and Cathy were
the sponsors.
Contributor: Roma Caulfield
Olympic theme at Moe
enjoying increased trading.
TOP: Families remained in
St Lukes Hall after lunch to
watch the movie, Cool Run-
nings, which fittingly sup-
ported our Olympic theme
during this term. Our Su-
danese children, in particu-
lar, enjoy these Sunday
fellowship times after com-
bined worship.
ABOVE: Thursday Moe GFS
girls competed in Olympic
challenges.
Photos: Mary Nicholls
Contributor: Mary Nicholls
September 2012 Our Diocese - Children, Family and Youth Ministries 11
The Gippsland Anglican
TWO students from Gipps-
land Grammar are among
the top 10 winners of The
Sunday Age Ultimate Story
competition, presented by
the MS Readathon. The
competition involved Pen-
guin Book authors writing
the first five chapters of a
new story, with entrants re-
quired to write the conclu-
sion. Grade four student,
Hannah Husodo, wrote the
overall winning sixth chap-
ter of the extraordinary, fic-
tional tale. Millie Dunnett,
of grade six, also placed in
the top 10. This is a re-
markable result for the
girls, who were competing
against 700 students across
Victoria and including sec-
ondary students up to year
11.
Head of St Annes Cam-
pus, Mr Greg Thomson,
said: Creative writing and
written expression in gen-
eral have always been a
strong priority at this
school. Students with an in-
terest in writing are encour-
aged to develop their
talents and enter various
competitions. Hannah,
along with Ruby McNeill
Johnson (grade five) and
Ben Rich (grade three), was
also awarded a distinction
in the University of New
South Wales Writing Com-
petition recently. We are
very proud of our students
achievements and congrat-
ulate them.
Hannahs winning chapter
was published in The Sun-
day Age and the girls will
soon participate in a writ-
ers workshop for the top
10 winners with author
Gabrielle Williams. They will
each receive $200 worth of
Penguin Books.
ABOVE: Millie Dunnett and
Hannah Husodo.
Ultimate storywriters
Back to traffic school
KIDSPLUS+ Gippsland will revisit Morwell Traffic School,
following the popularity of this venue for our diocesan
families at the beginning of the year (above). The dioce-
san Kidsplus+ network again invites parish families to join
us for an afternoon on wheels or enjoying games equip-
ment at the Morwell Traffic School, Princes Highway op-
posite Kernot Hall, in Morwell.
On November 18, from 3.30pm to 5.30pm, the afternoon
will include a free sausage sizzle. Groups are welcome to
attend, this being particularly appropriate for many of our
growing parish mainly music, playgroup, junior church
and Sunday school participants.
Contributor: Mary Nicholls
12 Our Diocese - Perspectives September 2012
The Gippsland Anglican
By David John Battrick
ALL local congregations
are organised around a
group of activities that flow
from their vision of what it
means to be the Church
and which dictate how they
make use of their re-
sources.
If you want to know the
priorities of any local con-
gregation, one of the best
places to start is to look at
the bank statements and to
discover how people are
encouraged to use their
time.
Never mind the one-line
mission statement at the
top of the pew slip, the pri-
mary activities of any con-
gregation help us to
understand what that com-
munity of Christians believe
their God-given calling to
be.
In other words, how a
local congregation spends
its time, energy and re-
sources is the clearest indi-
cator of its vision and
purpose.
These core activities have
often been called the or-
ganising functions of the
Church. As Anglicans, the
Five Marks of Mission help
give further clarity to our
calling to share in Gods
mission of loving and sav-
ing the world.
At the most basic level the
list of functions that we
probably aspire to be or-
ganised around might be
described as something
like:
gathering to worship God;
living as a community in
which we are cared for and
care for each other;
being a community of dis-
ciples in which we are
growing in faith through
learning and encourage-
ment, and
serving the world around
us through local mission
and global mission partner-
ships.
But the problem is that for
many of us the time and
energy needed to creatively
focus on these activities is
crowded out by the more
urgent tasks of housekeep-
ing. We may be custodians
of beautiful buildings re-
quiring our constant atten-
tion, we might need to
fundraise to supplement
our giving in order to bal-
ance the budget.
Simply maintaining what
we have, which is a sign of
great faithfulness in itself,
often leaves little room for
anything else.
In Newcastle diocese, we
have been developing a
framework for both ministry
and maintenance called
Becoming Ministering Com-
munities in Mission which
seeks to help us to concen-
trate the limited resources
available within a local con-
gregation in a more bal-
anced form.
In parishes that have
adopted this vision, the
parish council now consists
of two teams. The Resourc-
ing Team is elected at the
annual general meeting and
is focused upon mainte-
nance, finance and admin-
istration, working alongside
but separate from the Min-
istry Team commissioned to
focus on mission and min-
istry. Around half the
parishes in the diocese
have made a formal com-
mitment to develop leader-
ship in this new framework
and, of those that have
made this commitment,
most now have commis-
sioned teams in place.
By separating the atten-
tion given to each of these
two clusters of important
work, the hope is congrega-
tions will be able to give ap-
propriate and balanced at-
tention to both, rather than
to just one of them.
Of course some congrega-
tions have done this effec-
tively for many years by
having particular groups
within the local church to
concentrate on an evangel-
ism project or childrens
ministry or a building pro-
gram. Some parish councils
have, for many years, di-
vided into sub-groups to
give attention to both main-
tenance and ministry.
The Ministering Communi-
ties in Mission framework
seeks to replicate that kind
of a possibility across the
diocese, so in every parish
the organised focus on ad-
ministration and mainte-
nance is supplemented by
an equally energetic focus
on local ministry, mission
and discipleship.
Are the defining activities
of your congregation fo-
cused on maintenance or
ministry? It does not have
to be an either or choice.
We can do both.
Fr David John Battrick BSG
is Diocesan Ministry Devel-
opment Officer, Anglican
Diocese of Newcastle and
Director, Newcastle School
of Theology for Ministry.
This article first published
in The Anglican Encounter
August issue, newspaper of
the Anglican Diocese of
Newcastle; reprinted with
permission.
Balancing demands of
ministry and maintenance
By Michael Harvey
PERSPECTIVE comes originally from the Latin per-
spicere, to see through. We need to see people in
our congregation, better than they presently are.
Very often I hear church leaders say to me: I can
see invitation work well over in that church over
there ... but you should see my congregation!
I can almost hear Jesus saying, you should see my
disciples!
Jesus saw Simon differently than he saw himself.
In fact, he renamed him Cephas, the rock. It is just
that Simon didnt act like a rock. He was all over the
place. But Simon Peter became very influential for
Christ.
Never underestimate the power of perspective. In-
deed, the perspective influence of those around us is
so powerful. Many times we do not even realise we
are being strongly affected, because influences gen-
erally develop over an extended period of time.
I have been concerned for a while that we have a
tendency to write off our congregations that have a
majority of senior citizens. In a recent study of
churches, the Back to Church Sunday Team in the
United Kingdom, we discovered that even if a con-
gregation is senior it can still have powerful influ-
ence over younger people.
In fact, the survey found 60 per cent of those in-
vited by our senior congregations were under the
age of 50. Why is this so?
I think we have for far too long called our congre-
gations elderly, rather than elders. There is a differ-
ence between the two. Elders have respect and
have, over a long time, done a lot for their kith and
kin. Therefore, their adult children and grandchil-
dren will often be open to an invite from Grandma
and Grandpa.
It may well be by using phrases like aging and eld-
erly that we have spoken death to the church and
many of our best people have become Road Chris-
tians (Retired on active duty). We need to re-recruit
the senior members of the congregations and envi-
sion them in their position of elders and of their
powerful influence on those around them.
Everyone ought to have a dream which leads to a
perspective that lasts beyond a lifetime, to leave a
legacy behind. A legacy is something that someone
has achieved that continues to exist after they die.
Many of us are someone elses legacy. We were
probably invited by someone to enable us to cross
the threshold of a church building and many of us
would not be here if someone had not come along-
side us, at key points in our spiritual life.
Jesus, of course, left a massive legacy behind but
I want to finish on his final vision: Go therefore and
make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit. This legacy has led down the years to you and
me.
Now we have a chance to leave our own legacy be-
hind by offering an invitation that may very well last
beyond your own lifetime and, remember, Jesus
ends his final words of legacy by saying (and as you
go): lo I am with you always Matt 28:20 KJV
Borrow my eyes and gain a new perspective to see
beyond your fear and offer an invitation which might
also change the perspective of your friend or rela-
tive.
Michael Harvey is founding member of Back to
Church Sunday.
The power of
perspective
in invitation

September 2012 Our Diocese - Celebrating Ordained Women 13
The Gippsland Anglican
By Jeanette Severs
IT was Mothers Union that
led Elwyn Sparks into min-
istry as a hospital chaplain
and, eventually, to be or-
dained a priest. As Elwyn
tells her story, it is obvious
there are still painful mem-
ories, about the path to
women being ordained first
as deacons and then as
priests.
However, she moves past
this pain and speaks joy-
fully about the work she
has done for God.
In 1980, Elwyn felt a
strong call to ministry. She
was involved with Mothers
Union in her parish and
identified the need for an
evening group; Elwyn be-
came coordinator of this
group.
Along with Beth Hookey,
she went to a pastoral care
weekend retreat led by
John Bell and Charles Bay-
ley.
There was a strong sense
of Gods presence with us
that weekend, Elwyn said.
That weekend changed
many peoples lives, includ-
ing mine.
John Bell was then Angli-
can chaplain and coordina-
tor of the chaplaincy
department at Royal Mel-
bourne Hospital. He recom-
mended Elwyn study a
clinical pastoral education
(CPE) unit at RMH.
Elwyn also began studying
theology part time by cor-
respondence. By 1982, she
was studying full time.
When she finished her cor-
respondence studies, Elwyn
began working in a chap-
laincy role at RMH and at
the end of 1982 she moved
to a short term role as full
time chaplain at Preston
and Northern Communities
Hospital, or PANCH as it
was known.
Shortly after taking up this
role, early in 1983 Elwyn
began studying theology
part time at Ridley College.
It was at PANCH I did my
first baptism, Elwyn said.
Its something Ill never
forget.
Later in 1983, she moved
to the Alfred Hospital, still
in hospital chaplaincy, and
took on studying the third
unit of CPE.
Opportunities continued to
develop for Elwyn. Gerald
Beaumont, at Holy Trinity
East Melbourne, offered her
a role of hospital ministry at
the Freemasons Hospital
and she remained in this
role until the end of 1988.
Then the greatest, until
then, opportunity of all, as
Elwyn was ordained a dea-
con in 1989. She continued
in hospital chaplaincy and
also took on the role of cu-
rate at St Pauls Ringwood.
For Elwyn, being ordained
a deacon was a culmina-
tion, of sorts, of her path
until then. She had felt all
along that God was calling
her to the priesthood but,
of course, there were peo-
ple in Melbourne diocese
who were waging a robust
and, at times, threatening
campaign against women
being ordained as more
than a deaconess or trained
woman worker. Elwyn was
one of many women who
were well educated and well
credentialled for ministry in
the Anglican church but
were marginalised due to
church politics.
Finally, Synod passed the
motion for women to be or-
dained deacons. Elwyn was
there and she remembers
with pain the resolution
that saw people stand up
and move to one side or the
other of the room, based on
their view.
Becoming a deacon was a
joyous occasion for Elwyn
Sparks.
Id been considering be-
coming a priest for many
years. It was a very painful
time in Melbourne diocese
before the decision to or-
dain women was made.
I was on the fringes of
the Movement to Ordain
Women, not actively in-
volved, but I attended the
first meeting in Melbourne.
I was at the Synod that
finally decided on ordaining
women, it was a very
painful and upsetting time,
Elwyn said.
Hospital ministry
IN another accomplish-
ment, Elwyn was asked to
go to Caulfield Hospital, as
coordinator of its chap-
laincy program and as the
Anglican chaplain. As coor-
dinator, she also had an ec-
umenical role, liaising with
other Anglican chaplains,
Jewish rabbis and Catholic
priests. While in this role,
she oversaw the develop-
ment and furnishing of the
hospital chapel.
Elwyn moved from this
role to Maroondah Hospital
in East Ringwood, again as
coordinator of the hospital
chaplaincy program and as
Anglican chaplain. Again,
she oversaw the develop-
ment and furnishing of a
chapel at this hospital.
Every hospital was differ-
ent. But at the Alfred hospi-
tal I worked in the heart
transplant unit, spending
time with heart transplant
patients; that was very
special, Elwyn said.
I was also pleased to be
able to get two chapels de-
veloped and to see hospi-
tals support the role of
hospital chaplains.
Being a hospital chaplain
was a privileged role, just
incredible, ministering to
people.
After 19 years as a hospi-
tal chaplain, Elwyn was due
for long service leave and
her husband, Terry, was re-
tiring. They decided to
spend some time at Philip
Island, in their holiday
house. It was a move that
opened up more opportu-
nity for Elwyn.
A priest at last
IT was in Gippsland that
Bishop Arthur Jones offered
to ordain Elwyn, as a priest.
In February 2000, she was
ordained and the following
day she was inducted as
the priest-in-charge of
Croajingolong parish. It
was not just a sea change,
it was a life change, as
Elwyn and Terry moved to
the remote eastern com-
munity of Victoria.
For Bishop Arthur, it was a
strategic move, knowing
Elwyn had a long career in-
volvement in working with
ecumenical congregations
and well developed people
skills.
The Croajingolong parish
is a co-operating parish,
with the Uniting Church.
For 3.5 years, Elwyn min-
istered to the congregations
of Mallacoota, Genoa and
Cann River, before she re-
tired after serving five
months as locum of
Boolarra Yinnar Churchill
parish.
Croajingolong was an in-
credible parish. Id had so
much experience working in
interfaith roles and inter-
church as a hospital chap-
lain. That background was
ideal for being a priest in a
co-operating parish.
Gippsland was so differ-
ent [from Melbourne]. I
couldnt get over the
warmth of the people,
Elwyn said.
At Croajingolong I learnt
so much about the three
congregations and about
country people.
We decided Gippsland
was the place for us and we
wouldnt return to Mel-
bourne.
In particular, Elwyn re-
members Peter Wallis, then
Registrar of Gippsland dio-
cese, and his care for the
clergy.
Peter Wallis would ring
me up regularly and keep in
touch.
Other clergy were very
welcoming. I made friends
with Heather and Laurie
Baker, who were at
Bruthen; every time I had
to travel to Bairnsdale, Sale
or further west, I would
stay with them. We became
good friends.
Caring ministry
RETIREMENT for Elwyn
simply means she is not in
full time ministry. She is
still licensed for Gippsland
and Melbourne and holds a
role with the Cowes RSL as
chaplain and on the welfare
committee. She is also
chaplain for the South
Gippsland sub-branch of
the National Servicemens
Association. They are roles
she takes seriously, using
her counselling skills in
community outreach.
She is also involved in
ministry in Bass Phillip Is-
land parish, co-ordinating
the three weekly services
for aged residents.
Locum work beckons oc-
casionally and Elwyn has
stood in at Westernport,
Leongatha, Korumburra
and Yarram.
She is a caring person
who, after work in the
health industry as a
younger woman and a
counselling course, found
her calling in the priest-
hood, albeit most of the
time without the privilege
of being ordained.
Mothers Union gave me
the opportunity to grow into
chaplaincy work. Through
MU, I felt my calling into
ministry and heard the
three day chaplaincy course
was on. It was a very spiri-
tual weekend; the presence
of our Lord was very much
there, Elwyn said.
Family ministry
ELWYN is also remarkable
in that her two daughters
and a granddaughter have
lives in ministry. Her
daughter, Helen Phillips,
was a school chaplain in
Sydney and is now in Mel-
bourne, the priest-in-
charge of St Dunstans
Camberwell. Helen is also
an examining chaplain in
Melbourne diocese. Helen is
married to John Phillips,
also a priest in Melbourne
diocese.
Elwyn speaks brokenly of
her pride seeing Helen or-
dained, even though Elwyn
had not been offered the
chance to be a priest at that
time.
Elwyns other daughter,
Debbie, is a doctor and is
married to Reverend Em-
manuel Carrington, who
has just been appointed as
priest-in-charge of Hamp-
ton parish.
Helens daughter, Heather
Cetrenganglo, is in team
ministry at St Marys
Caulfield and
priest-in-charge of St
Catherines Elsternwick.
Heather is married to Adam
Cetrenganglo, who will be
priested later this year.
Each one of us, our min-
istries are so different; and
I am so proud of them,
Elwyn said.
Elwyns ministry came from MU
ABOVE: Reverend Elwyn Sparks (right) with her daughter, Rev. Helen Phillips and
granddaughter, Rev. Heather Cetrenganglo.
Photo: Terry Sparks
14 Our Diocese - Clergy News September 2012
The Gippsland Anglican
THE Reverend Deaconess
Nancy Drew, who died at
Latrobe Valley Village in
Moe on August 5, 2012, led
an eventful, challenging
and fulfilling life in ministry
and as a member of her ex-
tended family. From Dea-
coness House in Sydney to
Oenpelli, back to Sydney,
then to Nowa Nowa and the
Lake Tyers Mission and fi-
nally to Morwell, her life
was one filled with some
notable adventures and
with much love and com-
mitment to the communi-
ties she served.
Ordained Deaconess in
Sydney Diocese on March
5, 1950, Nancys first ap-
pointment was as Chaplain
to the Oenpelli Mission Sta-
tion in remote Arnhem Land
near the East Alligator
River. After a time in the
Northern Territory, Nancy
moved to the Parish of Red-
fern in Sydney for a year
while she studied in the De-
partment of Anthropology
at Sydney University.
In 1957, the Bishop of
Gippsland offered Nancy an
appointment as Deaconess
in Charge of Nowa Nowa
and Missioner to the Lake
Tyers Aboriginal Reserve.
During her eight years as
Missioner, Nancy endeared
herself to the people of East
Gippsland. The Aboriginal
community regarded her as
their deacon. Nancy loved
the Aboriginal people and
they loved her.
In 1965, Nancy was ap-
pointed to a newly created
role, Family Welfare Officer
for the Anglican Church in
the Latrobe Valley, based in
Morwell. This included
being the adoptions officer
for the Latrobe Valley area
and she placed about 50
children in new and loving
homes.
She was also a probation
officer; involved with the
establishment of Lifeline in
the Latrobe Valley; secre-
tary to the Diocesan Com-
mittee for Social
Responsibility, which agi-
tated for a number of proj-
ects for the local
community including the
establishment of the Traral-
gon Crematorium.
Among Nancys first ac-
complishments included
first woman elected as Cler-
ical Synod representative
on Bishop in Council for 10
years; first woman to be
elected rural dean in Gipps-
land; and first woman ap-
pointed by the Bishop as an
examining chaplain.
In 1971 her book, The Art
of Being Single, was pub-
lished, attracting much
media attention. In 1973,
the media descended again
when she became the first
woman to be made a rural
dean.
Nancys final appointment
was as Maryvale minister.
She pioneered a new con-
gregation in Morwell East
and held service in the li-
brary of Maryvale High
School. In 1984, she
handed the work to Rev-
erend John Gale and re-
tired, continuing to live in
Morwell and be involved in
the parish and the commu-
nity.
In 1998, she was awarded
a Rotary International Paul
Harris Fellowship. Alto-
gether, a quite remarkable
ministry and career.
Gippsland and the com-
munity of the Latrobe Val-
ley have lost a champion
and a good friend. Well
done, good and faithful ser-
vant.
We give thanks for Nancy
Drew, for her faith and her
faithfulness, her commit-
ment, her intelligence, her
determination and forti-
tude, her pioneering spirit,
her wit and her twinkly
eyes; and for all that she
meant to her family and her
friends. We give thanks she
is now at rest with the
Christ she has loved and
served for all these years.
LEFT: Deaconess Nancy
Drew on duty in Morwell
parish as she would be re-
membered by many peo-
ple.
ABOVE: Deaconess Nancy
Drew in a recent photo-
graph.
Vale, Deaconess Nancy
IT is with great pleasure
the congregations of
Churchill, Boolarra and Yin-
nar parish announce the
appointment as our new
minister, Reverend Brenda
Burney (right). She will
take up her appointment
late in October. We look for-
ward to her ministry with
much anticipation.
There has been a varied
worship schedule. The sec-
ond Sunday was CRE
(Christian Religious Educa-
tion) Sunday. Two people
from the church share the
responsibility of CRE at
Churchill and Hazelwood North primary schools.
The service was based on a CRE lesson and in-
volved the children as much as possible. It also en-
couraged the congregation to support the CRE
teachers with their prayers and in practical ways.
The annual Winifred Keik service, written by the
Queensland Unit of Australian Church Women, was
taken by the members of the Ladies Fellowship. This
service is written especially for the occasion and
beautifully delivered by the women of the parish.
A retiring offering is sent to support three women
who are doing studies in theology or related fields.
Members of the parish express our sympathy to the
families of Georgina Jinks, Robern Lubawskis
mother and Barbara Massey, who was a longtime
faithful parishioner until going into Heritage Manor a
few years ago.
Contributors: Ruth Place and Rae Billing
Brenda will be welcome
A RELIC of Jesuit mission-
ary St Francis Xavier will
visit Gippsland on October
5 to 7, as part of the Aus-
tralian Catholic Churchs
Year of Grace celebrations.
St Francis right forearm
will tour Australia Septem-
ber 16 to December 4.
The forearm is the arm
with which St Francis
blessed and baptised peo-
ple during his lifetime.
Honor guards line the road
and entrance to each stop.
The forearm will be at St
Patricks Catholic Church,
Pakenham, on October 5
for mass celebrated by
Bishop Christopher Prowse.
It will travel through Gipps-
land to St Marys Catholic
Cathedral, Sale for an after-
noon mass and quiet time.
It will return through Gipp-
sland to St Francis Xavier
College, Beaconsfield for a
prayer evening, mass and
overnight vigil.
On the Saturday morning,
October 6, the relic will be
moved to Our Lady Help of
Christians parish, Narre
Warren, for prayers and
mass. In the afternoon, it
will go to St Agathas
Catholic Church, Cran-
bourne, where the Catholic
diocese expects many peo-
ple will make pilgrimage to
see it during evening prayer
services, mass and another
overnight vigil.
On the Sunday morning,
following early morning
prayers, the relic will be
transferred to Melbourne
diocese.
St Francis Xavier was,
along with St Ignatius of
Loyola, among the founders
of the Jesuit Order. He
spent much of his life in
India and Asia in the 16th
century. From 1927 to
1976, when Australia
ceased to be a missionary
country, St Francis Xavier
was co-patron of Australia
with St Therese of Lisieux.
Source: Catholic Life,
August 2012 issue.
Relic tours Gippsland
BISHOP John McIntyre led
a Quiet Day for associates
of the Anam Cara Commu-
nity, at St Marys Anglican
Church, Mirboo North on
August 11, on the theme
Struggles With God.
He took as his main text
Genesis 32:22-32, the
story of Jacobs all-night
struggle with God and his
perseverance with God, de-
spite his own brokenness,
until he received Gods
blessing.
In the period before lunch
attendees had opportunity
to meet with Bishop John
for private interviews.
In the afternoon, Bishop
John led a lively discussion
on Mark 5:21-43, on the
raising of Jairus daughter
and the healing of a woman
in the crowd.
A period of reflection and
meditation followed before
more discussion.
The picture, above left,
that evoked discussion is
Lutte de Jacob, or seen as
Jacob struggling with God,
or an angel. It is online at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wik
i/File:Lutte_de_Jacob_avec
_l%27Ange.jpg
Bishop talks about struggle
September 2012 Our Diocese - The Abbey of St Barnabas at ABeckett Park 15
The Gippsland Anglican
MEN arrived from across
the diocese to a retreat
held at the Abbey from Au-
gust 3 to 5. The retreat was
led by Anglican priest, Rev-
erend John Stewart, Direc-
tor of the Living Well Centre
for Christian Spirituality,
based in Melbourne.
The theme of the retreat
was the injunction by Jesus
for his followers to love; to
Love God, to Love your
neighbors and to Love
yourself.
One of the attendees,
Robert Fordham, said: For
each of the sessions, John
Stewart made a presenta-
tion on an aspect of the
Love theme, relating it to
the issues men of our era
face in their daily lives.
After a period of individual
reflection the group would
then re-assemble to discuss
the implications both for in-
dividuals and the church.
The hospitality at the
Abbey was also an impor-
tant feature of the pro-
gram, particularly the
wonderful food provided
throughout the retreat pe-
riod by David and Deb
Chambers.
Overall, it was a great ex-
perience of men being able
to pray, work and socialize
together in this way.
Another retreat for men
will be held next year.
Later in the month, the
Abbey hosted a writers
workshop on the weekend
of August 17 to 19. Hosted
by Archdeacon Philip Mus-
ton and Sue Fordham and
attended by eight enthusi-
astic writers, it turned out
to be a weekend of fun,
laughter and creativity.
The workshop concen-
trated on the symbol of fire,
began with exploring the
positive, negative and neu-
tral aspects of the symbol;
then looked at how various
writers used that symbol to
motivate their work.
Some wonderful writing
resulted from the weekend
of inspiration and partici-
pants were treated to the
gourmet cooking of David
and Deb Chambers and Deb
Robinson. Everyone com-
mented on the luxury of the
new accommodation and
the privilege of being able
to take time out to write,
inspired by the grazing kan-
garoos, the koalas and the
teeming bird life.
David and Debbie Cham-
bers have volunteered to
cook for workshops to be
held at the abbey in Sep-
tember. See the diocesan
calendar for details.
TOP: At the mens retreat
were (back) Reverend Brian
Turner, Robert Fordham, Bill
Davies, Paul Selliani, Bruce
Armstrong and (front)
Bruce Armstrong, Ian Little,
Rev. John Stewart (retreat
leader), Alex Griffith and
John Mee.
Photo: Bruce Armstrong
ABOVE middle: Maurs Rod-
well, Phillip Muston and Jan
Cropley at the writing work-
shop.
Photo: Edie Ashley
ABOVE: David Chambers
and Deb Robinson volun-
teered in the kitchen.
ABOVE left: Debbie Cham-
bers checks a short story
she wrote and discussed at
the writing workshop.
Photos: Jeanette Severs


Owned and operated by Ray & Maree Anderson

With care & dignity, we serve
South Gippsland and Phillip Island

Main Office:
WONTHAGGI/INVERLOCH (03) 5672 1074
176-178 Graham Street, Wonthaggi, 3995 Fax: (03) 5672 1747

PHILLIP ISLAND (03) 5952 5171
15 Warley Avenue, Cowes, 3922 (by appointment only)
Email: randm33@bigpond.net.au

Pre-paid & pre-arranged funeral plans available.

CARING & PERSONAL 24 HOUR SERVICE

MLM8L8 Cl AuS18ALlAn lunL8AL ul8LC1C8S ASSCClA1lCn
2012
International Year of People of African Descent, Na-
tional Year of the Farmer, National Year of Reading
September
Aug. 31 to Sept. 2 Retreat on the Spirituality of
Spring, led by Reverend Anne Turner; Abbey
of St Barnabas, ABeckett Park; telephone 03
5156 6580
2 Childrens Music Prom, Gippsland Grammar,
Garnsey Hall, McGhee St, Sale; 11am;
telephone 03 5143 6381; $5 each, children
under two years free.
8 St James bush dance, St James church hall,
Orbost; 7.30pm; telephone Bevil, 03 5154
1085; $10 entry includes supper; BYO drinks.
9 Back to Church Sunday
11 Mothers Union Gippsland annual general
meeting; Leongatha; 9.30am; Karin
McKenzie, telephone 03 5662 2148
14-16 Workshops on Wind and Music, led by Fay
Magee and Dean Dr Don Saines; Abbey of St
Barnabas, ABeckett Park; telephone 03 5156
6580
14-16 CMS Spring Conference, Latrobe Valley.
22 Celebrating 20 years of womens ordination,
10am to 5pm; Old Wardens Lodge, Trinity
College Theological School, Parkville.
$50/$40. Bookings essential, telephone 03
9348 7127, email tcts@trinity.unimelb.edu.au
23 Deconsecration of Dargo church; 3.30pm;
telephone Reverend Brian Turner, 0408
216965
25-28 Mothers Union invitation week, ABeckett
Park; telephone 03 5156 6580
October
6 Open garden for Morwell parish mission to St
Margarets Hospital, New Guinea;
60 Cooloongatta Drive, Tyers; 1pm to 5pm;
Cost $10 per person, children free.
7 Feast day of St Francis of Assisi
9 Family Forum, with Dr Michael Carr-Gregg,
sponsored by Gippsland Mothers Union;
7.30pm; St Pauls Anglican Grammar School
Traralgon campus; telephone 03 5134 1356 or
03 5156 1949
12-14 Workshops on Earth and Art, led by Dr Pene
Brook; Abbey of St Barnabas, ABeckett Park;
telephone 03 5156 6580
13 Anam Cara Community contemplative
encounter, Windows into Judaism; Trafalgar
South, 10am; telephone 03 5634 7616
1518 Annual clergy retreat; Pallotti College
27-29 Womens and Mens Lay Retreat; Palotti
College. Leader, Bishop Michael Hough. Con
tact Gwyneth Jones; telephone 0421 501 024,
email gwyneth.jones1@bigpond.com
Diocesan Calendar
Not Alone
INFLUENCED by DH
Lawrences belief that, ulti-
mately, man is alone, one
participant at the writing
workshop at the abbey,
wrote the following poem.
I am the solace in the midst
of flame.
I am the comfort in the
storm.
I am the friendship of kind-
ness.
I am the delight of laughter.
I am with the beloved in
the pain, in the sorrow, in
the joy, in the laughter.
I am love. I surround you.
I encompass you. I enfold
you in the everlasting
arms.
I love you in the darkest
hour.
I love you in the sweetest
moment.
I love you.
I do not falter.
I do not forget.
I love you, beloved children
of my heart, my hand, my
desire.
All are wanted, all are
loved, all are grieved for.
All are mine, mine, mine.
My creation, my joy, mine.
Workshops at the Abbey
16 Our Diocese - Linking with Rwanda Diocese September 2012
The Gippsland Anglican
By Janet Wallis
FROM June 23 to July 15,
six members of the Angli-
can parish of Leongatha
visited our link diocese of
Gahini in Rwanda and our
link parishes, Karangazi and
Musenyi.
We went with the clear in-
tention of getting to know
some of the people we sup-
port and have supported
during the 12 years that
Gippsland diocese has been
linked with Gahini.
Our preparation for the
trip included speaking to
several people who have al-
ready visited Rwanda and
reading books about
Rwanda and its history, in-
cluding Bishop Alexis book,
Rescued by Angels.
We arrived in the capital,
Kigali, after a 23 hour plane
flight. We expected to be
met at the airport, but after
waiting a while, we organ-
ised for a taxi to take us to
Seeds of Peace, the dioce-
san conference centre.
That was smooth enough
(although not cheap), but
when we arrived, the rea-
son we were not met was
revealed.
The president was in
Gahini, as part of the an-
nual anniversary celebra-
tions. When we arrived, we
still had to wait for nearly
two hours, until the Presi-
dent left, before we could
move into our accommoda-
tion. The Bishop really en-
courages people who are
visiting to come during the
third week in June, so they
can participate in this gath-
ering and celebrate with the
diocese the beginning of
Christian revival in Rwanda
and the ongoing ministry of
the Diocese of Gahini.
We were blessed to be
housed in the round
houses at Seeds of Peace
for most of our stay. These
two bedroom bungalows
have beautiful views of
Lake Muhazi and plenty of
space in the lounge area.
Half our team was moved
into Gippsland House for
part of the second week.
This is extremely comfort-
able and provides individual
ensuite facilities.
Food was plentiful, but we
ate much the same each
day; omelette and bread for
breakfast, rice and beans or
a plate of chips for tea. For
lunch we visited local shops
in Gahini and bought fresh
bread, avocado, tomato
and bananas. Sometimes
we ate pineapple.
Each day we would meet
in the outdoor dining room
for breakfast, then walk up
the hill, about a kilometre,
to the diocesan centre.
From there, we were able
to go to the hospital, where
Dr Graham Toohill joined
the medical team and as-
sisted a plastic surgeon at
work.
We visited the rehabilita-
tion Centre and played
with the children, encour-
aging them to throw balls,
do puzzles, talk or just have
fun. Our main project, how-
ever, was to help develop
the library.
A university student from
America, Evan Hewitt, was
completing a two year proj-
ect to build a public library,
only the second to be
opened in Rwanda. The
books had been stacked on
the shelves and the official
opening had taken place,
but his time was up and he
had to return to America.
Pam, one of our team, had
worked in a school library
and it seemed a completely
natural thing for us to help
with the labelling and de-
velopment of the library.
Books had been sorted into
fiction and non-fiction by
subjects.
Using a basic Dewey Sys-
tem, which we color coded,
we set about labelling
books so that when they
are borrowed and returned,
they can be shelved in the
correct place.
Fiction was sorted accord-
ing to reading level, to give
readers an idea of the sort
of book they might be able
to enjoy. We were also able
to commission an extra
bookshelf to house books
about Rwanda or books in
the local language, Kin-
yarwanda. We look forward
to this being filled in the fu-
ture.
Whatever we were doing,
we would meet together for
lunch. While the food was
the same, we shared the
purchase of it. There was a
real sense that we had all
things in common Acts
2:44.
On two very special occa-
sions we were able to visit
our link parishes. This gave
us opportunity to meet the
local pastors and to talk to
some of the local people.
Each church setting in-
cluded a school, which was
obviously an important part
of the ministry. School con-
ditions were very basic. At
one school, the children sat
on benches, with no desk or
other resource and only a
single blackboard on which
work could be written.
We were wonderfully
looked after on these occa-
sions. We ate with the local
people, an abundant supply
of beans, rice, bananas,
sauce, some meat, either
beef or goat, and chips
(french fries).
Where-ever we went,
someone was there to
translate. Often this was a
younger person or one of
the pastors.
On our first Sunday in
Rwanda we worshipped
with the parish of
Karangazi. It was a special
district service and the
launch of their building
project.
The church building, which
was a solid but basic brick
structure, is to be replaced
by a larger, more ascetic
building. Everyone was en-
couraged to contribute to
this project.
According to their means,
people pledged significant
amounts. We were happy to
be able to do so, too. One
of the marvellous com-
ments made during this
service was by an older
woman, who said: I dont
have any money, but when
God gives me some, I com-
mit to contributing it to this
building.
We attended choir practice
with Rays of Hope. Many in
Gippsland will remember
their visit here in 2004.
Their singing in local lan-
guage is inspiring.
We joined them to learn a
song in English and were
made honorary members.
We sang with them at the
cathedral on our second
Sunday in Rwanda. They
are planning to make a new
CD and go on international
mission tour in 2013.
We hope they will be able
to come to Gippsland and
share their experience of
the love of God with us.
We were encouraged to
see people were generally
well fed and there are many
new schools open so each
child can get an education.
However, we were also
aware that many families
live hand to mouth. They
have little or no income,
simply the food they can
grow themselves and
maybe a little cash from
selling some at the market.
This is only part of the
story. We met people along
the main roads, where
transport and access to
towns is readily available.
Graham and Luke were able
to visit a child they support
through Compassion. They
drove as far as possible,
then had to walk down a
steep embankment and up
the other side to reach this
family, whose land barely
supported them and whose
only income was the ma-
nure from two goats and a
cow they looked after.
On our final day in
Rwanda, we went to two
Genocide memorials and
the Kigali Genocide Mu-
seum. These places very
graphically tell the story of
Genocide. Shelf after shelf
of human bones, pile after
pile of bloodstained clothes
vividly recall a dark chapter
in the countrys history.
We also heard of the hope
that is emerging, that
Rwanda can recover and
rebuild. That past differ-
ences are not part of the
ancient history of this land
and a united Rwanda can
emerge and develop.
Our lasting memory of
Rwanda will be of beautiful
people and wonderful wel-
coming smiles. It is a land
with a heartbreaking his-
tory and a marvellous fu-
ture. We pray for the
people, the Church and the
government policies seek-
ing to emphasise the unity
and hope which can be ex-
perienced through forgive-
ness and reconciliation.
TOP: Luke Toohill and Ver-
ity Morris organising the li-
brary shelves.
MIDDLE above: School chil-
dren.
ABOVE: The group met for
lunch every day.
Rwanda: forgiveness, unity and hope
September 2012 Our Diocese - Parish News 17
The Gippsland Anglican
VP Day in Bairnsdale
ABOVE: Bairnsdale parish celebrated VP (Victory in the Pacific) Day on August 12 at St
Johns church. The Bairnsdale Primary School choir attended as guest singers. Members
of the choir also read two bible readings and spoke of their personal experiences at the
school camp at Portsea. A special collection was taken to support this project.
BELOW: Travis Blackburn with Australian Army Reserve cadets, Josh Fleming and Gra-
ham Pickering. Travis was a guest speaker at the VP Day anniversary and spoke of his
experience training for and travelling on the Kokoda Trek with other Aboriginal youth and
mentors. Josh and Graham participated in the VP Day service.
Photos/Contributor: Ursula Plunkett
RIGHT: On July 22, Bishop
John McIntyre and his wife,
Jan, attended both services
at St Johns Bairnsdale. At
the 10 am service the
Bishop received a parish-
ioner, George Bowles, into
the Communion of the An-
glican Church of Australia.
The Bishop preached at
both services, played his
guitar and sang with the
children. During the coffee
break between the two
services and lunch was a
good time for catching up
with people. (front) Jan
McIntyre and Ron Cooke
and (back) June Gale and
Peter White enjoyed fellow-
ship between the services.
Photo/Contributor:
Ursula Plunkett
ABOVE: In Croajingolong parish, mainly music is a multi-
denominational supported activity. Recently, mainly music
held a pirates and princesses theme at Mallacoota. A fea-
ture on Croajingolong parish is on pages 5 to 8 of this
issue of The Gippsland Anglican.
Photo: Roger Jackman
Christmas in July
at Swan Reach
18 Our Diocese - Literary and Media Reviews September 2012
The Gippsland Anglican
THE Australian Christian
Book of the Year was an-
nounced in Melbourne re-
cently. Gumbuli of Ngukurr
(Acorn Press), written by
Murray Seiffert, was
awarded ahead of more
than 40 entries submitted
this year.
Second prize was awarded
to A Short History of Chris-
tianity (Viking) by Geoffrey
Blainey.
Love, Tears and Autism:
An Australian mothers
journey from heartbreak to
hope (Ark House) by Cecily
Paterson took third prize.
The Australian Christian
Literature Awards includes
prizes for unpublished man-
uscripts by young writers.
Faith like a mushroom
earned Claire van Ryn the
Young Australian Christian
Writer Award. Daniel Li was
awarded the Australian
Christian Teen Writer Award
for his work, A short walk.
Visit www.spcka.org.au
What the judges had to
say about Gumbuli of
Ngukurr: Few indigenous
Australians have been the
subject of so rigorous a bi-
ography. This is a unique
and timely contribution to
the story of Aboriginal en-
gagement with western cul-
ture and Christianity.
Always informative, it
sometimes, makes for pro-
foundly uncomfortable and
provocative reading. This
singular story of indigenous
protagonism, self-determi-
nation and leadership in the
face of overwhelming ob-
stacles; hostile opposition,
blind ignorance and numb-
ing indifference; maps a
way forward for the people
of this continent.
Review
TWO stories overlap and
interweave in this biogra-
phy of Gumbuli of Ngukurr.
One is of a remarkable Abo-
riginal elder, Michael Gum-
buli Wurramara, whose
early life was spent on re-
mote islands in the Gulf of
Carpentaria. As a teenager,
he moved to the Roper
River Mission, that became
known as Ngukurr under
government control.
Gumbuli was one of the
community leaders who
fought hard to achieve local
decision-making at this
time of dramatic change.
He became the first Abo-
riginal Anglican priest in the
Northern Territory and for
more than 30 years, leader
of the Arnhem Land Angli-
cans and architect of the
Kriol Bible Translation Proj-
ect. He faced many of the
challenging issues arising
from traditional Aboriginal
ways meeting Western cul-
ture and the Christian faith.
The second story de-
scribes the Ngukurr com-
munity in the second half of
the 20th century, as it
seeks to achieve a mix of
ancient and modern cul-
tures. Along the way, issues
arise such as health, em-
ployment, economics, wel-
fare, Stolen Generation,
polygamy, alcohol and Abo-
riginal spirituality. The plea
of Why dont you ask us?
seems to fall on deaf ears in
each generation.
Extremely readable and
thought-provoking, this
work is based on extensive
interviews, observation and
archival research. It chal-
lenges many assumptions
about the relationships be-
tween government, mis-
sions and Aborigines. A
collection of photographs,
many of historical impor-
tance, accompanies the
text.
In this centenary year of
the surrender of the North-
ern Territory from South
Australia to the Common-
wealth, we reflect on those
100 years and the 50,000
years of stories of Aborigi-
nal people. Gumbuli of
Ngukurr is one of those in-
spiring stories. An incredi-
ble man and outstanding
leader for Arnhem Land,
Groote Eylandt and Gulf
country region, his is a
story to be shared by all
Australians.
Author: The Hon
Malarndirri McCarthy,
Member for Arnhem,
Northern Territory.
Cracker tale
Blainey, G (2011) A
short history of Christi-
anity. Viking.
A CONSUMMATE story-
teller takes on the greatest
story ever told. Geoffrey
Blainey deftly weaves to-
gether epic events, devel-
opments and movements.
He pauses, when instruc-
tive, to examine sometimes
obscure episodes and peo-
ple. The result is a simple,
yet breathtaking, narrative.
Blaineys impartiality is es-
pecially evident in his treat-
ment of major conflicts,
such as the Reformation. It
is significant in an increas-
ingly Christophobic society,
that a prominent historian
at the peak of his prestige
has written an accessible
history that places Jesus at
the centre of human his-
tory.
Transformation
Paterson, C; Love,
tears and autism: An
Australian mothers
journey from heart-
break to hope. Ark
House.
A TRANSPARENT and grip-
ping testimony of radical
personal transformation
under stress. Cecily Pater-
son shares how her experi-
ences with her son,
Cameron, challenged her
own faith, pride and need
for control and enabled
them both to grow.
In a culture which denies
suffering and devalues the
lives of people with disabil-
ities, the story of Cecily and
Cameron is a powerful and
necessary witness.
Short-listed
Witt, S; Teen Talk. Par-
ent Talk: A common
sense guide to raising
your teenager. Collec-
tive Wisdom.
SHARON Witt is a second-
ary school teacher, mother
and author of best-selling
books for teenagers.
With this book, she be-
friends parents just as the
challenge of parenting
reaches its climax. Her
humor, enthusiasm and
confidence are infectious.
Biblical values, boundaries
and unconditional accept-
ance combine to provide a
soft place to land for par-
ents and teenagers alike.
Witt engages social media
and a resource list and links
to her web pages.
Clifford, R; Apologetic
preaching and teach-
ing: For the church &
the marketplace. Mor-
ling Press.
ROSS Clifford offers a sys-
tematic and practical guide
for evangelists and preach-
ers, addressing a pluralistic
society and unsympathetic
culture.
Particularly refreshing and
useful is the exhortation to
respect our audience by ac-
knowledging personality
types (intellectually or
emotionally oriented), un-
derstanding the listeners
context and not misrepre-
senting their beliefs ... or
our own.
Semmens, C (ed) The
zoo in you: Faith les-
sons on the wildness
within. Crooked Nose
Wisdom
TIGER. Turtle. Tadpole.
Trout. The stimuli are zoo-
logical. The results are orig-
inal, engaging and
insightful.
This surprising volume of
meditations, edited by
Cameron Semmens, is as
valuable as it is rare; 24
Autralian christian musi-
cians, writers and leaders
grapple with doubt, grief,
yearning, grace and more
in an intimate and reflective
mood.
Joseph, S; Colour
worms: Learn colours
the fun and easy way.
Growing Faith.
SHAN Joseph uses vivid
colors and simple rhyme to
awaken the imagination of
preschool readers, using
the color worm.

The Church, over the years, has been blessed with the generosity of Anglicans and others in support
of its mission. One way you can support this ideal in a relatively easy way, is to make a gift through
your will. In the first instance, of course, you will consider carefully the needs of your immediate
family and friends before proceeding with a bequest to the church.
We offer a way of helping you to carry out your wishes. Your gift, through your bequest, will be very
much appreciated. You may wish to support the Diocese of Gippsland as a whole, or your own parish,
or for a particular purpose.
Making your bequest in your Will is a simple procedure, although in preparing or amending your Will
you should always consult a solicitor. The Registrar of the Diocese of Gippsland has information to
assist you in making a bequest, including the form of words you and your solicitor might want to use.
Telephone Brian Norris on 03 5144 2044, or go to www.gippsanglican.org.au
A LASTING GIFT: A bequest to the
Anglican Diocese of Gippsland or your parish
Awards for Christian writing
September 2012 Our Diocese - Literary and Media Reviews 19
The Gippsland Anglican
THE 2012 Young Aus-
tralian Christian Writer
Award was announced in
August at the Australian
Christian Literature Awards.
The awards are an activity
of SPCKA (The Society for
Promoting Christian Knowl-
edge Australia Inc.). See
www.spcka.org.au
The winner of the unpub-
lished manuscript was
Claire van Ryn with Faith
like a mushroom. This col-
lection of thoughts serves
as a companion on the path
to christian maturity. The
writing is inquiring and
philosophical, but above all
it is practical.
The writers voice is strong
and impressive breadth of
historical and cultural en-
gagement is put to good
use. This is writing for
young adults who want to
make their faith more than
just a set of inert beliefs
locked safely away in their
hearts. It calls us to under-
stand the christian faith as
a worldview seeking action
and transformation.
Second prize was awarded
to Miriam Dale with Sugar
and salt: Honesty in faith.
Third prize went to Darren
Wright for St Patricks
Church. Part Two.
Claire van Ryns Faith like
a mushroom follows:
Among Arthur Boyds tap-
estries interpreting the life
of St Francis, there is a fas-
cinating depiction of the
Wolf of Gubbio fable. To un-
derstand his artistic state-
ment, you must first be
familiar with the story.
It goes something like
this: There once lived a
fierce wolf in the little town
of Gubbio that was so rabid
with hunger, it terrorised
the villagers. It ate animals
and humans alike and the
people were terrified.
Francis decided to ap-
proach the wolf, seeking a
resolution to the problem.
He could find only one com-
panion to accompany him
outside the town gate.
They ventured forward
and it was not long before
the wolf lunged at them
from the woods, canines
bared, growling.
Bravely, Francis called out:
Come to me, Brother Wolf.
I wish you no harm. And
the wolf lay down at his
feet.
Francis gave the wolf a bit
of an earbashing, telling
him of the punishment he
deserved, before offering a
peaceful resolution. The
townspeople would feed the
wolf each day and cease to
hunt him, in return for their
safety, acknowledging that
the wolfs actions were out
of hunger.
Francis and the wolf shook
paw and hand and the town
adopted the wolf, feeding
him daily until his death.
So goes the tale.
It has been told and re-
told as an example of the
need to resolve differences,
to seek reconciliation. As it
is written in Ephesians
4:32, Be kind and compas-
sionate to one another, for-
giving each other, just as in
Christ God forgave you.
Boyds tapestry, however,
serves a different lesson.
The 1974 artwork shows
the figures of St Francis and
the wolf melded into one
being; a distinct divergence
from traditional artwork on
the topic, which typically
show the saint and beast
shaking hands.
It asks the viewer to con-
sider the wild wolf is within
St Francis, within all of us,
representing the internal
struggle between good and
evil. And that is an uncom-
fortable moment of intro-
spection.
Rather than seeing our-
selves as the saint, halo
adorning the cranium, cross
in hand, battling the forces
of darkness, Boyds inter-
pretation turns the story on
its head. He acknowledges
we are all capable of malev-
olence when pushed to cer-
tain limits.
That, in turn, reminds us
we need to daily climb
above selfishness if we are
to overcome the human
condition. Something Jesus
had down to a fine art.
He urged people to spend
less time worrying about
the wolves around us and
more time taming the wolf
within. In Luke 6:41, Jesus
says: Why do you look at
the speck of sawdust in
your brothers eye and pay
no attention to the plank in
your own eye?.
Or, as Boyd inferred, it is
not the wolf at the city
gates that should alarm so
much, as the wolf within.
By Fay Magee
WHAT happens when we
sing? This is actually a crit-
ical question for the ongo-
ing practice of including
congregational song in any
kind of worship setting. It is
a particularly important ex-
ample of how we inevitably
bring our culturally-deter-
mined attitudes into
church, whatever church
may be.
The music we like to listen
to and sing or play has in-
creasingly become a prod-
uct, a commodity we buy,
something we use to define
ourselves or our lifestyle.
It becomes natural for us
to decide what we like and
then assume those criteria
mean it is also good. So our
music is good and some-
one elses could be not so
good.
At the same time we have
a cultural history which,
most recently, encourages
us to think of music as an
emotional tool, something
we use to create a certain
mood, particularly to make
us happy.
In the everyday world of
music, we find increasing
fragmentation of the mar-
ket, symbolised by the per-
sonal music device or iPod
which allows me to listen
just to my music.
Friends share music but
young people do not often
find their musical prefer-
ences extended or chal-
lenged unless they are
actually making music.
This is the broad cultural
backdrop to what we bring
to church, what we might
be expecting music to do
for us in worship. However,
there is a lot more to music
in church and particularly
song, that is, music with
words added.
Like the flow of liturgy,
music in worship is part of
that taking us through
time, taking us into the nar-
rative and the actions which
are worship.
It is music directed to a
greater range of emotions
and responses to the gospel
story acted out in the Eu-
charist.
Because it is music in
which we are participants,
it becomes an embodied
experience which makes its
impact over time, far more
significant in forming us
and our community.
What happens when we
sing in church? We can and
should expect it to be
something different, partic-
ularly in the way it func-
tions. There should be
surprises and challenges as
well as the comfort of the
long traditions.
Young Christian
writer award
Grimmond, P. Suffering Well: The
Predictable Surprise of Christian
Suffering. Matthias Media.
By Paul Cavanough
SUFFERING happens. If you find your-
self personally confronted with the real-
ity of suffering, then a book with the
title Suffering Well tends to catch the
eye. It is especially attractive that the
book is part of a series titled Guide-
books for Life.
If you are like me, you will find yourself
looking for a book like this when times
are tough for you or the people you
love. Obviously I went to the last page
to see if I could expect to be disap-
pointed.
I found this: My prayer is that this
book might spur you on to know God;
to know him as he truly is and to live in
the light of his generous revelation
(p165). This book is only 165 easy-to-
read, story-filled pages of insightful and
biblical reflection on the topic of suffer-
ing.
The author touches on some examples
of suffering which were unexpected by
me. For example, do you know folk who
are suffering because their children and
grandchildren reject Christ? I have been
praying for my brother to turn to Jesus
for 35 years. This book insightfully ac-
knowledges the deep nagging pain that
results for so many of us.
there is something very sad about
seeing family and friends and even just
casual acquaintances living sinfullyIt
simply brings disappointment and sad-
ness (p121).
How did we ever get the idea that life
should be a breeze? The author sug-
gests that, like television shows, we all
play stories in our head which are cre-
ated by the world we live in. One exam-
ple is that anything causing suffering
must be bad because suffering is point-
less.
The biblical perceptive, which the au-
thor drives home, is that God uses suf-
fering to build perseverance, character
and hope in his people (Romans 5:3-4).
Biblical illustrations and current stories
are powerfully mixed to drive home the
foundational realities of the impact of
sin in our world and the power of God in
our lives. The author touches on the re-
alities of physical suffering such as ter-
minal illness, natural disaster and
martyrdom.
I found comfort, challenge and encour-
agement in his conclusion that: The
world experiences suffering not because
God is out of control but because God is
in control. And the solution to suffering
in not to see everything sorted out in
our time, but to wait patiently for God
to act according to his character (p41).
So you think suffering is no big deal for
you? No great struggles or persecution
in your life? This book will challenge you
deeply as it asserts: The great danger
for Christians living in the West is not
physical death at the hands of persecu-
tors but slow spiritual death of a thou-
sand tiny compromises crouched at our
door, waiting to devour our hearts
(p97).
This book draws answers for the deep-
est questions from the biblical text. Al-
though not perfectly structured at
times, the authors key points and ar-
guments are easily accessible for any
Christian with a love for the Bible and a
desire to understand God and his ways.
I loved this read. It helped me through
a time of deep questioning.
God and the tough times
Making music in church
Children at Orbost listen to a story,
during activities in the church hall.
20 Our Diocese - Pictorial September 2012
The Gippsland Anglican
ORBOST celebrated its pa-
tronal day with a brilliant
cabaret on July 21, when St
James church held their
annual theme dinner. This
year, the theme was Ara-
bian Nights.
St James hall was elabo-
rately decorated with mid-
dle eastern theme
decorations and 160 guests
joined in the fun of the
event, arriving in some fan-
tastic costumes. There was
a prize for the best dressed
guest.
As usual, the catering
team produced a superb
three-course dinner, fol-
lowed by entertainment
throughout the evening.
First on stage was the
Nowa Nowa Mens Choir
who sang brilliantly and en-
gaged the audience with
their causal style.
The St James Players pro-
duced another hilarious
pantomime performance.
This year it was Ali Baba,
Genie and Others. Various
characters acted out the
crazy plot, including a stel-
lar performance by Humpy
the camel.
Cabaret Diva, Brigid de
Neefe, and jazz musician,
Jonathan Harvey, travelled
from Melbourne to enter-
tain the guests. Both have
extraordinary talent and
were well received.
Congratulations to all in-
volved. The popularity of
the event has increased
each year and this year
probably reached maximum
seating. Good feedback has
followed the function, with
people wanting to book for
next year already.
I wonder what the theme
will be next year? Watch
this space.
Contributor: Bevil Lunson
ABOVE right: Anne Wilson,
Janice Armistead and Mer-
rill Herbert were very color-
ful.
RIGHT: Brian Blakeman
(winner of the best dressed
guest), Reverend Bevil Lun-
son and Dr Elizabeth Blake-
man.
FAR right: Claire Witteveen
and Claire Griebenow.
BELOW: The Nowa Nowa
Mens Choir in full voice at
St James patronal cabaret.
Photos: Barbara Lunson,
Julie Young and
Snowy River Mail
ABOVE: Jason Griebenow.
LEFT: The decorated hall
and some of the attendees.
BELOW: Vicki Coote, Mack-
ayla Coote and Wendy
Lavell looked like Arabian
princesses.
Photos: Barbara Lunson,
Julie Young and
Snowy River Mail
Orbost brilliant at cabaret