Volume 108, Number 11 December 2011

Published in Gippsland Diocese since 1904

The Gippsland Anglican is your award winning newspaper: Best Regional Publication Silver Award (ARPA) 2010; Item or Feature that shows the most
originality Highly Commended (ARPA) 2010; Best Social Justice Story Highly Commended (ARPA) 2004; Best Regional Publication (ARPA) 2003;
Most Improved Newspaper (ARPA) 2001.
Seeds of Peace helps
recovery in Gahini
pages 12 & 13
Breast cancer care a
priority in Gaza
Page 3
Ordinands told of tea
and toast
page 9
Students give
up schoolies
ABOVE: The month before and after the Christmas season is often the time
parishes hold the annual church fair; an opportunity to welcome the community
into the church, provide entertainment and raise money for mission and ministry.
It is the prelude to the celebration of Christs birth on Christmas Day and an
opportunity to remind people they are welcome into the church at any time and
particularly at Christmas time. The parish fair also brings with it reminders of
how the church can help provide presents, clothes and even household essentials,
in good repair and at little expense, for families in our communities. Supporting
the Bairnsdale parish fair at St Johns church on November 19 were Hannah
(with face painted), Esther and Jordan Dobby, of Bairnsdale. More photographs
on inside pages.
Photo: Jeanette Severs
LOCAL students are shunning schoolies
week in Australia and travelling to Gahini
diocese, in Rwanda, to donate their time in
education activities. Six year 12 students
from St Pauls Anglican Grammar School
and Gippsland Grammar are taking a
schoolies alternative, leaving November
24 and returning December 12.
The students are taking books donated by
Gippsland Grammar students to help start
an English library in partnership with
Eastern University in Philadelphia (USA);
preschool toys and puzzles donated from
both schools and requested by the rehabil-
itation hospital; sports equipment donated
by St Annes campus of Gippsland
Grammar; and handmade books for the
nursery school made by year nine students
at St Pauls Anglican Grammar School.
The year nine students studied Rwanda for
part of this year and are sending 200 bal-
loons with messages to Gahini also.
Gippsland parishes are also sending gifts
with the students for link parishes.
According to Sarah Gover, one of five
adults accompanying the students, the
group plans to facilitate half day confer-
ences on Education for the Future for
school leaders, visit partner parishes and
run holiday programs for young people.
Other adults accompanying the group are
Mike Clapper, executive principal of
Gippsland Grammar and St Pauls
Anglican Grammar School, his wife, Jo
Cockwill, chaplain of Gippsland
Grammar, Reverend Jon Taylor and David
Gover.
As part of his recent visit to Gippsland
diocese, Bishop Alexis Bilindabagabo, of
Gahini diocese in Rwanda, spent time as a
special guest at chapel services and spoke
with a number of students at Gippsland
Grammar and St Pauls Anglican
Grammar School. St Pauls has close links
to Gahini diocese through a sister school
arrangement. Gahini and Warragul stu-
dents have given support to a number of
projects to help the churches widespread
education project in Rwanda, including in
recent years an annual school trip to
Rwanda.
Discussions have been taking place for
some time between the two dioceses about
the possiblity of a project for Gippsland
Anglicans to sponsor Rwandan students
who complete school at primary level, to
enable them to continue on into secondary
school, currently possible for only a
minority of young Rwandans. A number
of individuals in Gippsland diocese
already sponsor students in this way, even
supporting them into post secondary edu-
cation (reported in previous issues of The
Gippsland Anglican).
At a gathering of local mission represen-
tatives in Warragul, Bishop Alexis spoke
about the ministry in schools at Kibondo
which is linked to St Thomas Bunyip.
2 Our Diocese - Missions and Ministries December 2011
The Gippsland Anglican
The Gippsland
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Index
Students avoid schoolies
MU Quiet Day
AWAGs bus trip
Youth at Sale
Color in picture
Shire helps mainly music
Clergy ministry
Womens ordination
Seeds of Peace
Diocesan Calendar
Literary & media reviews
Faith issues
Anglicans and violence
Blooms galore
Vale Margaret
Blessing the fleet
The Venerable Archdeacon Heather Marten
Vicar General of Gippsland Diocese
Dear friends,
THERE is a lovely Advent song for children
called The Whole World is Waiting for Love.
The words express so clearly what the season
of Advent is about.
Were waiting for Jesus like Mary.
Were waiting for Jesus the Lord.
Come down , Lord Jesus! Come quickly, Lord
Jesus!
The whole world is waiting for Love,
The whole world is waiting for Love
(Sr Marianne Misetich SNJM)
When we consider the many people of the
world who are indeed waiting for a better life, a
safe place to call home, food for the table and
clean water to refresh their thirst, we do want to
beseech the Lord to break through the heavens
and come down. Isaiah phrases it so powerfully:
O that you would tear open the heavens and
come down..... (Isa 64.1).
For Isaiah, this is a plea that God would reveal
Gods self anew, that the nations might know
who God is; a hope that the silence would be
broken and Gods voice would be heard once
again. Prayer and hope are entwined together in
this chapter.
Advent is, of course, a good time to focus on
hope. Both Old and New Testaments promise
that one day the God who created the world will
flood it with his glory, transforming it so that it
thrills and throbs with his love, justice and
peace.
Advent becomes a time for us to be reminded
of that promise and to look forward to the day it
will be brought to fruition. Advent is also a time
for us to focus on what it means to live in the
light of that hope now.
One of the problems with Advent, of course, is
it gets swallowed up by Christmas. Advent
does, indeed, signal the coming of Christmas
but not the kind of Christmas so often part of
life in Australia today.
As Joan Chittester writes: Civil Christmas is
about the storing up of things. The Christmas to
which Advent points is about being emptied out
so we can become full. Advent points to the es-
sentials of life.
Commercial Advent points to its extrava-
gances.
Advent is not a little Lent. It is not a peni-
tential season. Advent is intended to remind us
of who God is and who we are meant to be. In
Chittesters words, it is about the riches of
emptiness.
The God who comes to us as the infant Jesus
models for us what it means to be small and to
grow into who and what we are meant to be.
So the good news of Advent is that the One we
are waiting for has come in the child Jesus; the
tiny, the vulnerable, the dependent, the child
who is full of possibility.
Advent is a season of anticipation and prepa-
ration for the joyous festival of Christmas that
honors Christs birth among us. There is, too, in
Advent, an element of anticipation of Christs
return at the close of history.
Today the Church focuses much more on the
hope that Christs birth and rebirth in the world
will usher in a new age.
For in this child are all the promises of God
fulfilled. Yet he does what we do; he is born, he
grows up, he lives for many years a life that is
ordinary, he works, he eats, he sleeps. Yet here
is ultimate love, complete holiness, made real
in a back street in a small town.
Christ does not save the world just by his death
on the cross; we respond to that death because
we know here is love in human flesh, here is the
creators power and life in a shape like ours. As
we learn to trust that love, we are changed, you
and I.
It is only as we are changed, that we see God
in human form amongst us daily, we are able to
peer past the hatreds and fears of our world and
see the goodness and all we have in common
with people around us.
So we rejoice in hope in Advent for God has
indeed come among us and has brought us a
new vision of what it means to be human.
I wish you much joy, peace and hope for your
Advent and Christmas celebrations and time to
spend with family, friends and all those whom
you love.
With peace and love,
Rejoice in hope in Advent
THE Abbey Conference and Ac-
commodation Centre is now open
for bookings, welcoming people to
Raymond Island on the Gippsland
Lakes. Based at ABeckett Park,
the accomodation is set within the
natural environment of coastal
bush and waterside.
Each motel-style ensuite unit ac-
commodates three people, with
queen and single beds.. The West
Cottage, a three bedroom self con-
tained cottage accomodating six,
contains three double beds.
To book into the units or West
Cottage, by telephone 03 5156
6580 or email theabbeyofstbarn-
abas@gmail.com.
From the beginning of December
2011, Sue Gibson (above right)
will work part-time at The Abbey
to welcome visitors, manage book-
ings, co-ordinate volunteers and do
all the administrative tasks to en-
sure people enjoy staying at or vis-
iting The Abbey.
Sue is a member of the congrega-
tion at St Peters by the Lake in
Paynesville and has had a keen in-
terest in the developing vision for
ABeckett Park as a Centre for
Spirituality and the Environment.
Sue brings a great deal of experi-
ence and skill to this role, with past
teaching, administration and man-
agement experience.
I am excited to be involved with
The Abbey and look forward to
talking with you and welcoming
you as you visit or stay at The
Abbey of St Barnabas. Please feel
free to ring me on 03 5156 6580
for any information you may re-
quire, said Sue.
M MO OR RE E B BA AN NG G F FO OR R
Y YO OU UR R B BU UC CK K ! !

A common expression but it describes exactly what
you gain when you make a deposit with the Anglican
Development Fund. You can Save your money with
guaranteed security and Serve the Mission of the
Church in Gippsland at the same time.

Good interest rates, too. Here they are:
o 3.75% At Call
o 4.75% Term Deposits to $20,000
o 5.00 % Term Deposits $20,000 +

The period for a term deposit is 12 months. There is no
minimum deposit for either At Call or Term deposits.

Remember, there are No Fees or Charges to operate your
account with the ADF. Access to your deposit is only a
telephone call away.

Open an account with the ADF today. Telephone us on (03)
5144 2044 or write to The Registrar, at PO Box 928, Sale, Vic.
3850, or you can drop in to the Diocesan Registry at 453
Raymond Street, Sale, for an application form to open your
account with the ADF.

Note: Neither the Anglican Diocese of Gippsland nor the Anglican
Development Fund Gippsland is prudentially supervised by APRA.
Contributions to the Fund do not obtain the benefit of depositor protection
provisions of the Banking Act 1959.
Try a holiday at The
Abbey this summer
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December 2011 Our Diocese - Missions and Ministries 3
The Gippsland Anglican


Owned and operated by Ray & Maree Anderson

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

Main Office:
WONTHAGGI/INVERLOCH (03) 5672 1074
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Email: randm33@bigpond.net.au

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ABOVE: The Mothers Union Quiet Day held at Leongatha was very
spiritual, with Reverend Janet Wallis speaking on the theme, Lord, Teach
Us to Pray. Participants learned how the Lords Prayer changes us and
then moved prayerfully through a labyrinth in the church. At each sta-
tion, participants stopped to reflect and pray with the aid of meditations
and meaningful props. Karin McKenzie, Beth Grover, Joyce Fletcher,
Gwen Toohill and Jean Fletcher were among the participants.
Contributed by Karin McKenzie
Australian Senate supports
breast cancer campaign
By Jane Still
THE Anglican aid organisation,
Anglicords Women Die Waiting
campaign, highlights the lack of
access women in Gaza have to ap-
propriate breast cancer treatment.
The campaign has received cross-
party support in the Australian
Senate.
Senators Lee Rhiannon (Greens),
Michaelia Cash (Liberal National
Coalition) and Claire Moore
(Labor) successfully put a motion
to the Senate congratulating An-
glicord for its efforts to highlight
breast cancer is one of the major
causes of death for women in the
Gaza Strip and called all members
of the Senate to support
the Women Die Waiting
campaign. The campaign
aims to raise enough
funds to provide 2,000
women per year, in Gaza,
with breast cancer screen-
ing, so cancers can be de-
tected early enough for
surgery to be effective.
The Senate was informed that
while the five year survival rate for
Australian women diagnosed with
breast cancer is 80 per cent, it is at
40 per cent for women living in the
Gaza Strip.
Detecting the cancer early
enough gives women a better
chance of a cure through surgery.
Funding to provide 2,000 women
in Gaza with access to breast can-
cer screening every year is urgently
needed.
Melissa Parke, Member for Fre-
mantle, spoke in support of the
program in the House of Represen-
tatives. Ms Parke participated in a
study trip to Palestine supported by
Anglicord earlier this year.
I would like to pay tribute to the
tireless efforts of Anglicord's CEO,
Misha Coleman, and staff, as well
as the staff of the Al-Ahli Hospital
in Gaza. I urge interested Aus-
tralians to donate generously to
Anglicord's Women Die Waiting
campaign.
I call upon all the relevant au-
thorities to exercise some compas-
sion, Ms Parke said.
The move to support the cam-
paign in the national parliament
followed the national launch of the
campaign in Parliament House,
Canberra, last month,
Member for Calwell, Maria Vam-
vakinou, supporter of the Women
Die Waiting campaign, launched
the national campaign and made a
speech to Parliament praising the
impact the campaign will have on
women with breast cancer in Gaza.
I believe strongly that... women
should not be a part of the collat-
eral damage in Palestine. she said.
Senators, Members, CEOs from
other international aid agencies and
church leaders viewed the Women
Die Waiting documentary pro-
duced by Anglicord. The short film
features interviews with women in
Gaza who have struggled through
the permits process to access treat-
ment in Israel, Jordan and Egypt.
The documentary was filmed in
Gaza under the direction of An-
glicords CEO Misha Coleman,
after a consultation with An-
glicords partner Al Ahli Hospital.
When I went to Gaza in June last
year, the hospital we work with had
started operating a new mammog-
raphy machine donated by a pri-
vate donor, but they only had
funding for a small number of
mammograms and there was still a
lot of work to do to coax women to
get screened, Ms Coleman said.
When you meet women whove
been diagnosed with breast cancer
and you know and she knows treat-
ment is available just on the other
side of that wall and you know
shes unlikely to get that treatment
in time to save her life, it makes
you weep.
More than 60 per cent of breast
cancers in Gaza are detected too
late for surgery to be effective.
Chemotherapy is unre-
liable in Gaza and ra-
diotherapy is not
available at all, so the
women must travel out-
side Gaza for appropri-
ate treatment. This is a
difficult process.
The women have to
wait for travel approval from doc-
tors, for approval from the Treat-
ment Abroad System, for a
financial assessment and then for a
permit from the Israeli Defence
Force.
This process can take up to six
months but some women never get
these approvals at all. As a result,
many women die waiting.
Anglicords campaign will fund
early detection and screening pro-
grams through the Al Ahli Hospi-
tal, the only Christian hospital in
Gaza. More than 500 women have
been screened since July; 30 per
cent required follow up treatment.
Share this story with your
friends and family. Write and tell
your local member about it, organ-
ise an event using our resource
packs, or contribute to the cam-
paign.
But whatever you do, dont
wait! urged Misha Coleman.
For more information, look at
www.womendiewaiting.org.au or
telephone 1800 249 880.
MU Quiet Day
ABOVE: St Nicholas church in Lakes Entrance hosted a Bush Church
Aid community concert recently.
Photo: Kath Grandy
... while the five year survival rate for
Australian women diagnosed with
breast cancer is 80 per cent, it is at 40
per cent for women living in the Gaza
Strip.
ABOVE: Misha Coleman.
4 Our Diocese - Missions and Ministries December 2011
The Gippsland Anglican
THE first annual bus trip, a time
of fellowship for women under the
banner of Anglican Women of
Australia in Gippsland, was organ-
ised in 1982 by Joan Chynoweth,
wife of Bishop Neville Chynoweth,
then bishop of Gippsland diocese.
On the first bus trip, the women
spent several days in Canberra, in-
cluding a a boat tour of Lake Bur-
ley Griffin and a reception hosted
by Peter McGauran, then Federal
member for Gippsland.
The bus trips have been well sup-
ported for the opportunities of
womens fellowship, fun, hilarity
and the courteous and helpful bus
drivers.
The good memories include two
Bettys getting lost at Melbourne
Zoo one year and locked in public
toilets the following year; mischief
with football scarves; a lack of hot
water in Ballarat resulted in a cou-
ple of AWAGs rorting their fellow
travellers; Valerie Jones (wife of
Bishop Arthur Jones) surrounded
by motorbike riders; late arrivals at
dinner; laced corsets; home made
biscuits for morning tea and lolly
jars; grandmothers sliding down
curved bannisters; visiting Floriade
in Canberra; feeling Gods pres-
ence when listening to the Last
Post played at the Australian War
Memorial; wheelchair races; an un-
expected hospital visit; a lost pas-
senger; rug making; visiting
parishes and sharing the Eucharist.
The high standard for the bus
trips was set by Joan Chynoweth
and maintained by Merrill John-
ston and Pat Cameron, who per-
sonally vetted every venue and
route in the year leading up to each
trip, with the assistance of their
husbands, Gordon and Cedric.
This year (2011) marked the last
bus trip under the umbrella of
AWA in Gippsland. It was again
organised by Merrill and Pat and
the women spent several days tour-
ing the Mornington Peninsula.
This AWAGs bus trip is described
here by Margaret Beckett, Joan
Hall and Rene Patterson.
The places we visited were Lin-
tons Nursery, Mt Eliza, Hastings
Cricket and Football Club Bistro,
the pier at Hastings, Ashcombe
Maze and Gardens, Shoreham,
Arthurs Seat National Park in-
cluding Seawinds, Mornington
Racing Club Bistro Steeples,
Mornington Street Market, The
Baths Restaurant, Sorrento, St
Peters Church, Mornington and
the Tyabb Packing Shed, Tyabb.
Highlights included the delicious
lunch at Ashcombe Maze. The gar-
dens were a picture and the rose
maze, with named roses, was redo-
lent with perfume.
A walk on the sand and paddle in
the water at Sorrento was enjoyed
by all. Our lunch of fish and chips
was accompanied by watching the
vehicles and passengers move to
and from the ferry that crosses Port
Phillip Bay to Queenscliff.
The Tyabb Packing Shed was a
trip down memory lane; so many
things, furniture, linen, china,
glass, crystal, hobbies, art deco and
walls of books. Time went quickly.
The views of the bay from Sea-
winds garden in the Arthurs Seat
National Park, included the beauti-
ful William Ricketts sculptures and
the lovely flowers.
We listened to a thought-provok-
ing sermon at St Peters church
Mornington, with Reverend Jan St
James speaking about The free-
dom we gain when we allow God
to be the judge. Everyone was sur-
prised to meet Reverend Keith
South and Edna South at the serv-
ice and enjoyed sharing dinner
with them afterwards.
A very big thank you to Pat and
Merrill for organising a great trip,
to Anne and Jean and other helpers
in the past and to all the bus driv-
ers, including the most recent one,
John Goodall, who have been pa-
tient, caring and confident.
We are sad this was the last coach
trip. We will miss the meeting with
friends and the companionship of
other Anglican Women of Gipps-
land, the AWAGs.
As well as places of note, the
AWAG bus trips have created great
memories for and about all who
went on them, present, past and
those who have passed on.
Special celebration
THE final gathering of AWA
Gippsland will be on March 6,
2012, at St Pauls Cathedral in
Sale, to celebrate and remember
the 50 years of the organisations
existence, mission work and min-
istry by, for and with women. All
women in the diocese are invited to
attend this celebration day, com-
memorating the 50th anniversary
of AWAGs in 2012.
For 50 years the Gippsland
branch of AWA has provided op-
portunities for the women of the
Gippsland diocese to meet together
in worship, service and fellowship.
Sadly, it is no longer possible to
have a committee to organise such
events. At this years annual gen-
eral meeting, members were told
AWA has to close (reported in The
Gippsland Anglican, November
issue).
However, we are determined to
close with a great celebration. This
will be no drift into obscurity.
This organisation has enriched
the faith life of our diocese for 50
years. The women of the diocese
have supported each other as they
lived out their Christian faith. We
have come to know and care for
each other across the length and
breadth of Gippsland.
We have worshipped together. We
have raised large amounts of
money for missions. From the be-
ginning, AWAG has supported
ABeckett Park with funds. We
have learnt from speakers who
have broadened our knowledge and
appreciation of how others are liv-
ing the Christian life in Australia
and across the world.
Please join with friends from one
end of Gippsland to the other, in
Sale, on this day. Celebrations
begin at 9.30am; lunch ($10 each)
will follow the 10.30am Eucharist.
RSVP through your parish repre-
sentative by February 21 for cater-
ing purposes. Please wear a touch
of gold.
Contributed by Carolyn Raymond
BILLY DOESNT WANT NEW TOYS THIS CHRISTMAS.
HE DOESNT WANT A TREE OR DINNER WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS.
BILLY JUST WANTS TO KNOW THAT WHEN HE WAKES UP ON
CHRISTMAS MORNING THERE WILL BE SOMEONE TO CARE FOR HIM.
This Christmas, you can help make sure that all is calm, all is bright,
for children who cannot be with their families. Children who have
been placed in foster care because they were left alone or neglected.
SILENT NIGHT
HOLY NIGHT
ALL IS CALM
ALL IS BRIGHT
YES, I want to help children in
Anglicare Victorias care
Please accept my Christmas gift of:
$40 $85 $180 Surprise! $
My cheque/money order is enclosed
(payable to Anglicare Victoria) OR
Please debit my credit card:
Mastercard Visa Amex
Diners Club
Card number
Expiry /
Cardholders name

Cardholders signature

Please send me information about your
regular giving program
Please send me information about becoming
a foster carer
Cut out this coupon and place in an envelope
addressed to: Bishop of Gippsland
Reply Paid 1398, SALE VIC 3853
Alternatively you can donate online at
www.anglicarevic.org.au or phone 1800 809 722.
Mr/Mrs/Ms/Dr (please circle)
Name
Address
State Postcode
Phone (H) (W)
Email
AWAGs enjoy fellowship of bus trips
December 2011 Our Diocese - Youth Ministry 5
The Gippsland Anglican
Youth at Sale
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uneral
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JOHN
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PAUL
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2002900
THE Friends of St Pauls Cathe-
dral met for the annual general
meeting on November 12 in the
Community Room of Delbridge
Hall. The meeting was chaired by
the Vicar General, Archdeacon
Heather Marten. Seventeen
friends attended this AGM with
eight apologies. There are more
than 70 financial members of the
Friends of the Cathedral ($25 per
year) and about 20 Life Members
($300).
Each year the Friends gather to
have a lunch or dinner and to hear
a guest speaker; although this year
the lunch was followed by a con-
cert in the Cathedral with Anthony
Hahn, Cathedral Organist and Paul
Sykes and Jan Lear giving vocal
performances.
Dean Don Saines spoke to the
meeting about the ministry devel-
opments in the Cathedral and espe-
cially noted the support being
promised to the MISSION 2012
proposal to employ, with the dio-
cese, an Assistant Minister for
Youth and Families.
He reported there was a very gen-
erous response to this initiative and
the Cathedral was able to proceed
toward this three year project.
Bishop-in-Council voted on Octo-
ber 20 to support this project and
committed $42,000 each year for
three years. The Cathedral Parish
members have promised to in-
crease their financial giving to
cover the extra $16,165 needed for
MISSION 2012 and replicating
this this amount of support in
2013-2014. Bush Church Aid So-
ciety has also committed to support
the project, with $25,000 per year
for three years.
The Dean expressed to the
Friends meeting his thanks to the
diocese for supporting Cathedral
MISSION 2012.
It has ramifications for our
Cathedral Parish. Not least of all,
we hope and pray, will be an in-
creased ministry with youth and
families and the attendant changes
and developments ahead of us but
still unforeseen, he said.
The Cathedral with the Diocese
will employ Richard Lanham from
January 1. In further support for
the Cathedral MISSION 2012 proj-
ect, the Friends of St Pauls Cathe-
dral voted to give $2000 toward
refurbishment of the Youth Hut,
the old vestry at the rear of the
Cathedral. This will house an of-
fice space for the Assistant Minis-
ter, Richard Lanham, and an
appropriate meeting space for
young people.
ABOVE: Young people in Sale
parish begin cleaning the exterior
walls of the youth hut, with current
youth leader, Christine Morris.
BELOW: Tim Stokoe sorts through
food donated by Gippsland Gram-
mar senior students, for the Cathe-
dral pantry. The food needed a new
home now the Youth Hut is to be
refurbished and used as an office
for the Assistant Minister and
meeting space for local youth.
Photo: Christine Morris
ABOVE: East Gippsland Brass Band, with a number of youth as members, played at the St Johns Bairnsdale
parish fair on November 19.
Photo: Jeanette Severs
ABOVE: Toni Muston, Reverend Daniel Lowe, chap-
lain at St Pauls Anglican Grammar School and Bishop
Alexis Bilindabagabo, of Gahini diocese in Rwanda.
Bishop Alexis was in Gippsland diocese in November
and visited Gippsland Grammar and St Pauls Angli-
can Grammar schools. Toni Muston is one of six local
year 12 students spending time in Gahini in Decem-
ber; see page one for further information.
6 Our Diocese - Children and Family Ministry December 2011
The Gippsland Anglican
REVEREND Terrie Robinson re-
cently said churches across the An-
glican Communion are uniquely
placed to challenge and change
how society thinks about gender-
based violence.
Speaking at the start of the annual
Sixteen Days of Activism Against
Gender Violence, Reverend Robin-
son, the Anglican Communion
Networks Co-ordinator and
Womens Desk Officer, explained
that every day millions of adults
and children, both rich and poor,
experience violence based on their
gender.
Most are women and girls but
men and boys can also be victims
of gender-based violence and
stigma is attached to them by soci-
ety every bit as much as it is to
women, said Mrs Robinson.
As well as the pain of violated
bodies, minds and souls, there is
the additional pain of the loneliness
and isolation, so often placed as an
extra burden upon victims and sur-
vivors of gender violence. Society
looks away or, even worse, scorns
and blames those who have been
abused.
The Sixteen Days campaign
gives extra impetus for civil soci-
eties, for governments, for
churches and individuals to take
seriously the work needed to elim-
inate violence. Churches are
uniquely placed in our communi-
ties to speak out, challenge and
change our own and others atti-
tudes and behaviours.
As members of Christs body it
is inherent in us that we care for the
survivors of gender-based vio-
lence, helping to restore them to
health and to community and let-
ting them know of their infinite
God-given worth.
Rev. Robinson applauded the
heightened profile of the response
to gender violence in the Anglican
Communion.
In January this year, the Pri-
mates, meeting in Dublin, Ireland,
took time to reflect on gender vio-
lence in their own contexts. They
committed themselves to action
and wrote a letter to the churches
[also in French and Spanish] set-
ting out the many ways in which
churches can work towards restor-
ing the right relationships between
men and women, boys and girls.
In Rwanda, Burundi and Congo,
where sexual violence as a weapon
of terror has continued long after
the signing of peace treaties, the
Anglican churches have gathered
other church and faith leaders, gov-
ernment representatives, non-gov-
ernment agencies and United
Nations bodies, to explore how
they can work together to bring an
end to violence and abuse against
women and girls.
The Archbishop and bishops of
Southern Africa have publicly
signed the White Ribbon pledge as
a way of articulating their commit-
ment and lifting up their churches
gender work. A diocese in the
Church of North India has run
workshops for schoolgirls to give
them a basic understanding of laws
relating to the protection of women
and an understanding of the
process of law. The girls have
asked if the workshops can be run
for boys too.
In many parts of the Commun-
ion and among ecumenical bodies,
pastoral guidelines have been pro-
duced so priests and lay workers
know better how to respond to
those caught up in domestic vio-
lence. Biblical texts are being re-
visited and expounded afresh in
this generation to challenge the sta-
tus quo and lift up the truth that
women and men are created equal.
These are just some of the ways
the churches are engaging with the
different issues surrounding gender
violence. There is still so much to
do, still so much potential un-
tapped, but at least were on the
journey and now is the time to step
up the pace.
The Sixteen Days campaign be-
gins each year on November 25,
the International Day for the Elim-
ination of Violence Against
Women and ends on December 10,
Human Rights Day.
On December 1, World AIDS
Day can be seen as a reminder that
HIV/AIDS and violence against
women and girls are twin pan-
demics and cannot be approached
entirely as separate phenomena.
Sixteen Actions for the Sixteen
Days of Activism Against Gender
Violence:
1. Sign the We Will Speak Out
pledge on-line at www.wewills-
peakout.org We Will Speak Out is
a coalition of Christian churches
and agencies committed to speak-
ing out against sexual violence,
challenging attitudes that perpetu-
ate it and caring for its victims and
survivors.
2. At 16.00 each day, pause to
take time out, to be still, to reflect
and to pray, using the World Coun-
cil of Churches 16 Prayers for the
16 Days.
3. If you are a man or a boy, join
the White Ribbon campaign and
wear a white ribbon. If you are a
woman or a girl, join the White
Ribbon campaign and wear a white
ribbon in solidarity with the men
and boys who are making a stand.
4. Visit the Restored website at
ht t p: / / www. rest oredrel at i on-
ships.org to learn more about do-
mestic violence and see how
churches can respond. Restored is
an international Christian alliance
working to transform relationships
and end violence against women.
5. Read Matthew 19.13-15 to
your children and tell them hurting
someone because they are a boy or
a girl is never acceptable.
6. Ask your church or your dio-
cese to read the International An-
glican Family Networks Oceania
Consultation report and action plan
to tackle abuse and to consider
adapting and using it in your local
context.
7. Find out the dos and donts in
responding to domestic violence.
The Domestic Violence Handbook:
For clergy and pastoral workers,
published by the Joint Churches
Domestic Violence Prevention Pro-
gram in South Australia, describes
the forms and patterns of domestic
violence, explodes some of the
myths and offers guidelines for
clergy and lay workers in respond-
ing to domestic violence.
8. Look at the resources for con-
textual Bible Study developed by
the Ujamaa Centre at the Univer-
sity of KwaZulu-Natal, South
Africa and used in the Tamar Cam-
paign. The aim of the Tamar Cam-
paign is to demonstrate Gods
compassion and justice to women
and children who suffer indignity
and violation through sexual and
domestic abuse. It looks at re-
demptive masculinities and the
links between HIV and gender-
based violence.
9. Use the Prayers and Medita-
tions prepared for the Sixteen
Days by women of The Episcopal
church.
10. Say NO UNiTE at
http://saynotoviolence.org/16days2
011 offers 16 actions for 16 days
that you can take to protest and
prevent violence against women
and girls. Pick as many as you like
or take the action of the day.
11. Team up with other church or
faith traditions and plan something
together. See Restoring Dignity: A
Toolkit for Religious Communities
to End Violence Against Women,
developed by Religions for Peace.
12. Read Righting Her-Story:
Caribbean Women Encounter the
Bible Story published by the
World Communion of Reformed
Churches. This is a Bible study
book on women providing refresh-
ing ways to read the Bible, en-
abling women and men to
re-discover its richness and its abil-
ity to help them reflect theologi-
cally on their faith and experience.
The book can be purchased or
downloaded from the WCRC web-
site at www.wcrc.ch.
13. Download Created in Gods
Image: From Hegemony to Part-
nership, a church manual on men
as partners that promotes positive
masculinities from the standpoint
of the Christian faith. Published by
the World Council of Churches and
the WCRC.
14. Download and display the
posters at the One Man Can Cam-
paign. One Man Can supports
men and boys in taking action to
end domestic and sexual violence
and HIV/AIDS and in promoting
healthy, equitable relationships that
men and women can enjoy; pas-
sionately, respectfully and fully.
The campaign website has a wealth
of resources including workshop
activities and action sheets and a
section for religious leaders.
15. Every person has a value and
dignity which comes directly from
their creation in Gods own image.
Find out how the Anglican Com-
munion Safe Church Consultation
is promoting and supporting the
physical, emotional and spiritual
welfare and safety of all people in-
volved in churches throughout the
Anglican Communion.
16. Explore the Resources section
of the website of the International
Anglican Womens Network
(IAWN) and read their newsletters
for more ideas. The International
Anglican Youth Network (IAYN)
has also developed practical re-
sources to help in ending violence
against young women and girls.
The White Ribbon Campaign is a
movement for men and boys who
pledge not to commit or condone
violence against women and girls
and not to remain silent about it.
The movement is rapidly growing
and engaging men and boys in
countries such in Brazil, Pakistan,
South Africa, Canada, New
Zealand, Australia and the United
Kingdom.
The Anglican Communion Office
serves the Anglican Communion,
with around 85 million members in
44 regional and national member
churches around the globe in more
than 165 countries, http://www.an-
glicancommunion.org
Source: Anglican Communion
News Service
Anglicans take
lead to end
gender violence
Wishing you a happy Christmas
December 2011 Our Diocese - Children and Family Ministry 7
The Gippsland Anglican
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.
BARRY AND ANNETTE LETT
Funeral Directors
67 Macarthur St., Sale 3850
(03) 5143 1232
Barry, Annette and
Bradley Lett offer
care, compassion and
service with
dignity for the people
of Gippsland.
Caring and personal
24-hour service.
Prepaid and prearranged funeral plans available.
Shire helps mainly music
ABOVE: Heyfield parishs mainly music program has benefited from two
significant funding grants. Wellington Shire (represented above by Mayor
Jeff Amos) contributed $5000 and Anglicare has contributed $5000 for
the parish to build an outdoor playground for the mainly music program.
BELOW: Bishop Alexis Bilindabagabo, of Gahini diocese in Rwanda,
participated in the mainly music program at Heyfield, during his tour of
Gippsland in November.
Photos: Sarah Gover
ABOVE: On October 23, at the 8am and 10am services, there was a combined 14 baptisms, four confirmations
and two people admitted to Holy Communion at St Pauls Anglican Cathedral, Sale. Family ministry will ben-
efit from the appointment of a new Assistant Minister from January 1. Immediately after Christmas, Sale parish
will be hosting the annual Summer in Seaspray, a free program of community events, beginning Tuesday, De-
cember 27 and finishing on Sunday, January 1, 2012. Childrens activities will be held 10am to 12noon daily
in the Seaspray hall, with stories, puppets, games, fruit and craft; a special program will be held for preschool-
ers. The Family Fun Day, on Saturday, December 31, from 12noon to 2 pm, includes free barbecue, live music,
craft, games and a giant jumping castle. Community worship is at 10.30am on Sunday, January1, at the Church
of the Epiphany in Seaspray, led by St Pauls Ministry Team. Once again, there is no charge for any of the ac-
tivities, provided by volunteers from St. Pauls Anglican Cathedral, Sale and funded by a $5,000 Wellington
Shire Council Event Sponsorship Grant.
Contributed by/Photo: Christine Morris
Games fun
at Battle
EVERY year, Trafalgar has a commu-
nity festival during the month of October,
the Battle of Trafalgar. A number of
Trafalgars Anglican parishioners were in
the annual play presented by the Trafal-
gar Amateur Drama Society. The played
was called The Goodbridge Million and
gave three performances. The story was
about a parish that was given $1 million
from a patron and the discussion held on
how to spend it.The audience was en-
couraged to join the discussion andsome
very interesting ideas were given.
The money raised from the play is used
for maintenance of the public hall.
Members of the parish again served the
families of our community at the Battle
of Trafalgar Community night. The
jumping castle and giant games from
KidsPlus+ Gippsland were very popular.
Giant Snakes and Ladders (right) was en-
joyed by the families. Face painting and
badge making also appealed to the chil-
dren, many of whom we know through
the holiday programs we run.
Contributed by Marg Clarke
8 Our Diocese - Clergy Ministry December 2011
The Gippsland Anglican
Maffra ends waiting
If so, wed love to hear from you!
ON CAMPUS COURSES
ONLINE COURSES

online.mcd.edu.au
PARISH BASED
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
E: T:
THOUGHT OF STUDYING THEOLOGY?
www.trinity.unimelb.edu.au/theology
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has now broadened to includ
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03 9348 74788


The Anglican Diocese
of Gippsland
takes complaints of
abuse and harm
seriously.

If you may have been harmed by a
Church worker, or know someone
who has, please come forward. All
complaints will be treated sensitively
and confidentially.

The Director of Professional
Standards, Cheryl Russell, can be
contacted on telephone 03 5633
1573, on mobile 0407 563313 or
email cherylrussell1@bigpond.com

THERE was a large gathering at
St Johns church, Maffra, to wit-
ness the induction and installation
of Reverend Graham Knott as Rec-
tor ofthe parish on Wednesday, No-
vember 2, by Right Reverend John
McIntyre, Bishop of Gippsland.
Graham was supported by his
wife, June, and a strong contingent
of clergy and congregations from
the diocese and people from the
other Maffra churches.
The service was led by Archdea-
con Edie Ashley and Bishop John
preached on the theme of being
Christ-like out in the community.
Following the service there were
speeches of welcome from Rev.
Sandra Houghton of Uniting
Church Maffra, Wellington Shire
Mayor, Jeff Amos, and Rectors
Warden, Jeff Wheaton, as well as a
letter of welcome from Philip
Davis MP.
In Grahams response he made
mention of the friendly welcome
he and June had received so far and
acknowledged some of the recent
initiatives he was involved with in
Britain may not be readily trans-
posed to Maffra. Graham men-
tioned such projects as working
with people in the sex industry and
working with the after-darkers or
night-clubbers.
A happy time of fellowship and
supper concluded a special evening
for Maffra parish.
Graham and June are looking for-
ward to a quiet lifestyle as they
make their home in the rectory at
Maffra. However, it will be some
weeks before their container of fur-
niture arrives from the United
Kingdom.
Contributed by Jeff Wheaton
ABOVE: At the induction at Maf-
fra were Bishop John and Jan
McIntyre, Pat Cameron (warden),
Reverend Graham and June Knott,
Jeff Wheaton (warden) and Helen
Montague (warden),
Photo: Sarah Gover
New appointment at Heyfield
REVEREND David Head has
been appointed the new priest in
charge of Heyfield parish. Rev.
David will be inducted at a service
in Heyfield on Tuesday, February
14, 2012, beginning 7.30pm.
Rev. David has been Vicar of
Hampton parish in Melbourne dio-
cese since 2003. He is an active
supporter of early childhood pro-
grams in Hampton parish.
Rev. Davids new appointment
will be part-time at Heyfield, four
days per week.
REVEREND Dr Mark Short was commissioned as National Director of
The Bush Church Aid Society of Australia (BCA) at St Philips Church
in Sydney on November 16, 2011. About 150 people gathered to wel-
come Dr Short to the Christian organisation that supports ministry and
mission across rural, regional and remote Australia. Among those who at-
tended were The Most Reverend Dr Peter Jensen, Archbishop of Syd-
ney; Right Reverend Dr Peter Brain, Bishop of Armidale and BCA
President; Right Reverend Allan Ewing, Bishop of Bunbury; Right Rev-
erend Dr Glenn Davies, Bishop of North Sydney; Right Reverend Ray
Smith; Reverend Rick Lewers, Bishop-elect of Armidale; and The Ven-
erable Richard Seabrook, Administrator of The Murray.
Dr Short and his wife, Monica, were presented with gifts, from repre-
sentatives from each Australian state and territory, that symbolised their
region. Find out more about BCA and its work, at website
www.bushchurchaid.com.au
ABOVE: Reverend Dr Mark Short, Monica Short and their sons, Andrew
and Matthew.
New BCA director
ABOVE: Reverend David Head
with his partner, Mark.
December 2011 Our Diocese - Clergy Ministry 9
The Gippsland Anglican
Tea, toast and
the love of God

The AMF exists to resource employment of
Aboriginal people in ministry; training of
Aboriginal people for ministry; development of
Aboriginal ministry in the community; the
planting of Aboriginal churches; & education
of the Diocese about Aboriginal issues.

Be a part of achieving these aims.

For more information, contact the
Diocesan Registry Office at
453 Raymond Street, Sale, Victoria
PO Box 928, Sale, 3853
Telephone 03 5144 2044
Fax 03 5144 7183
Email registrar@gippsanglican.org.au
By Jeanette Severs
ARCHDEACON Heather Marten,
Vicar General of Gippsland Diocese, re-
vealed her love and enjoyment of the
Narnia stories of CS Lewis when she
spoke at the ordination on October 29.
Reverends Roger Jackman and Tom
Killingbeck were ordained priest and
Reverend Barbara Logan was installed as
a canon of St Pauls Cathedral, Sale dur-
ing the service.
Rev. Heather spoke of the themes of
endless love, good triumphing over evil,
adventure and the importance of tea and
toast, during her sermon. She went on to
speak about the Gospel of St John, a
place where the reader can also discover
a wonderful world of characters, love,
depths of understanding and layers of
meaning.
Rev. Heather spoke about the Woman
of the Well story, where there are two as-
pects, both amusing and ironic. Where
the disciples still call Jesus Rabbi, or
teacher, the woman recognises him and
calls him Messiah. The second is where
the disciples sit and listen to Jesus talking
about the harvest.
Rev. Heather compared this activity to
the woman who is in the city harvesting
followers for Jesus.
As we reflect on the ministry of priest-
hood, priests stand at the brink of the di-
vision between the joy of heaven and the
misery of earth, Rev. Heather said.
Today we ordain Roger and Tom to
their calling as priests. The way you
bring Gods people to be Gods people is
to serve them, she said.
The moment we stop being a servant
is the moment we knock off the branch
of priesthood.
All ministry is a gift of grace, Rev.
Heather cautioned.
If you want to know who God is you
see by looking at Jesus. Your primary
identity as a priest is not your dog collar
or your training or education. You are
who you are because you have been
caught up by love of the Spirit. Jesus is
glorified for all of us and revealed for us
as we come into the Holy of Holys.
There is no joy nor sorrow like the
ministry of Gods Word. You have the
privilege of offering that to your people
every time you meet, she said.
To the congregation, Rev. Heather
asked the people to remember to pray for
their priests, in their ministry, their per-
sonal and family lives.
Roger Jackman is working in Croajin-
golong parish and Tom Killingbeck has
been deacon in charge of Bruthen parish
since early this year.
The Dean, Reverend Dr Don Saines, in-
stalled Reverend Canon Barbara Logan,
of Lakes Entrance and Metung parish, in
the Stall of St Priscilla in St Pauls Cathe-
dral, during the same service.
ABOVE: Reverend Canon Barbara
Logan is robed by her fellow Cathedral
Canons, Jeff Richardson and Amy
Turner. Canon Barbara was installed in
the seat of St Priscilla by Dean of the
Cathedral, Dr Don Saines.
ABOVE right: Reverend Canon Barbara
Logan, Rev. Roger Jackman, Rev. Tom
Killingbeck, Archdeacon Heather
Marten, Rev. Graeme Macrobb and Rev.
Jim Connelly.
RIGHT: The Cathedral Choir was in full
voice for the ordination service at St
Pauls Cathedral, Sale, on October 29.
Photos: Jeanette Severs
10 Our Diocese - Celebrating Ordained Women December 2011
The Gippsland Anglican
A pioneer for priesthood


Anglican Women of Australia
Gippsland Diocese
Closure and Celebration to
Give Thanks for 50 years of
Service, Worship and Fellowship.

Tuesday, 6
th
March 2012
St Pauls Catbedral Sale
9.30am Morning cuppa
10.30am Eucharist, Bishop John presiding
12.30pm Lunch, $10 per person
2.30pm Afternoon Tea

RSVP through your parish representative, by
21st February 2012, for catering purposes.

Please wear a touch of gold.
Col, Pal & Brad Semmens
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
~Servicing Gippsland~
Maffra 5147 1954
Sale 5144 1954
Heyfield 5148 3354
24 Hour Service
Our Family Caring For Your Family Since 1979
Brad Pal Col
By Jeanette Severs
REVEREND Sheridan Hannah is
a unique pioneer in Gippsland dio-
cese. Sheridan, who graduated
from Melbourne College of Divin-
ity with a degree in Theology, was
the last deaconess to be ordained
and the first woman ordained dea-
con in Gippsland. (According to
records, Sheridan was the 25th
woman to become a deacon in
Australias history.)
On August 3, 1986, Sheridan
Hannah was admitted into the
Order of the Diaconate by Bishop
Neville Chynoweth, then Gipps-
lands bishop, in the same service
as Reverend John White, who
served in a number of parishes
across Gippsland diocese.
Sheridan was made a deaconess
on February 24, 1985, only 18
months prior to being made a dea-
con. The role of deaconess was
unique in Gippsland diocese, in
that holders of this title were af-
forded privileges such as being
known as Reverend Deaconess and
had a seat and a role in the House
of Clergy in Synod.
Deaconesses could also be in
charge of a parish or a parochial
district, this title held by Winifred
Holton, Sheila Payne and Nancy
Drew. Gippsland diocese was a pi-
oneer for deaconesses (see The
Gippsland Anglican, October 2010
and October 2011 and The Dea-
conesses of Gippsland by Ray El-
liot, 1996) and for women in the
church generally.
At the service Sheridan became a
deaconess, she was supported by
Deaconess Nancy Drew and Dea-
coness Sheila Payne, both well
known in Gippsland diocese, and
Deaconess Carlie Hannah, Sheri-
dans sister, along with Deaconess
Olive Dyson and Deaconess Mary
McGregor from Melbourne dio-
cese.
Asked recently about her journey
in ministry, Sheridan said she had
felt a sense of call to be ordained to
the Anglican clergy for a long time
before becoming a deaconess. At
the time, the only role open to her
was of deaconess. Sheridan was
studying in Melbourne and work-
ing in Hampton parish with Peter
Hill, in Sunday worship, visiting
and youth group.
She applied to Gippsland diocese
to be a candidate for ministry and
Ted Gibson, who was then Dean of
St Pauls Cathedral in Sale, offered
her support. Sheridan said she
moved to Gippsland to become a
deaconess and worked full time in
home and hospital visiting, provid-
ing communion at home and at
nursing homes, participating in the
liturgy and taking funerals.
After the Synod decision to or-
dain women, she became a deacon
and continued for a while at the
Cathedral in Sale, performing the
same duties.
In an interview (Gippsland
Times, August 5, 1986) after her
ordination as deacon, Sheridan said
she would like to become a priest
eventually, but saw her ministry in
the work of a deacon. (It was to be
some years before women were
priested in the Anglican church, in
1992; next year, 2012, is the 20th
anniversary of this historic step).
In her interview, Sheridan was
honest about the opposition
women experienced across the An-
glican church to being ordained,
from both sexes.
Speaking at the diaconate service,
Bishop Neville said Sheridans or-
dination was very much the seal-
ing and recognition of her calling
to the ministry.
Sheridan has appointed Deacon-
in-charge to Rosedale parish in De-
cember 1986 and served there until
1991. Records describe her min-
istry in Rosedale as exeptional.
During her leadership there was
much progress and growth in this
rural parish.
She moved from Rosedale in
1991 to take up the role of Deacon-
in-charge at Cudal-Manildra,
NSW, in Bathurst diocese.
I felt strongly a need to be or-
dained as a priest, but Gippsland
was not interested in ordaining
women as priests, Sheridan said
recently.
Health issues saw her leave the
Bathurst diocese and move eventu-
ally to Bellarine parish, in Mel-
bourne diocese. She is still licensed
as a parish deacon and works full
time as an honorary associate min-
ister with Bellarine parish, working
with Robert Myers.
Her duties include organising the
liturgy, Sunday services, home
communions, visiting and prepar-
ing candidates for confirmation.
My call has been to priesting all
along, Sheridan said recently.
My faith in the church has been
tested but, while I am still a dea-
con, my call is not to the dia-
conate.
ABOVE: At Sheridan Hannahs
ordination as a deaconess on Feb-
ruary 24, 1985, were (back) Rev-
erends Neville Anderson, Jim
Connelly, Barry Johns, Bishop
Neville Chynoweth, Peter Hill,
Archdeacon Denys Smallbone,
Graham Brennan; (front) Dea-
conesses Carlie Hannah, Olive
Dyson, Sheridan Hannah, Mary
McGregor, Nancy Drew and Dean
of St Pauls Cathedral, in Sale, Ted
Gibson.
Photo: Gippsland Times
LEFT: Deacon Sheridan Hannah,
the first woman ordained a deacon
in Gippsland diocese after the
agreement of Synod in 1986,
seated beside Bishop Neville
Chynoweth. The photograph is
taken at the ordination of Josh
Verspaandonk (pictured centre
back).
Photo: Diocesan Archives.
December 2011 Our Diocese - Celebrating Ordained Women 11
The Gippsland Anglican
By Jeanette Severs
I REALLY love what I do, said
Reverend Heather Cahill, about her
role as a deacon in Heyfield parish.
Heather is Gippsland and Anglican
raised. Her mother, Beryl
Llewellyn, was an active voice in
the campaign for women to be or-
dained. Beryl was a lay reader at St
Pauls Cathedral, Sale, a member
of Bishop in Council and spoke at
Gippsland Synod in favor of
womens ordination. She wrote to
people in the Anglican Church
Australia-wide asking for support
for womens ordination.
She was very happy when even-
tually Synod voted in favor,
Heather (pictured far right) said.
Heather admits her mother had an
enormous influence on her life,
being her Sunday school teacher
and supporting Heather from a
young age to learn and play the
church organ. Heather was con-
firmed at Heyfield, which she says
makes her ordination there last
year, as a deacon, a very special
celebration.
Heathers relationship with the
church and parish at Heyfield
began early. When she was 14, she
started playing the organ at even-
song. She attended Sunday school
and, in her turn, was a Sunday
school teacher. She has been a Re-
ligious Education teacher in
schools since her late teen years.
As a young woman, Heather
moved to Dandenong to work and
joined a Christian youth social
group, where she met her husband.
Moving to Papua New Guinea,
Heather continued her involvement
with the Anglican church in Port
Moresby, joining the choir, playing
the organ on a roster system and
teaching RE in the primary
schools. Visiting the missions, she
realised how very basic the mis-
sionaries conditions were. When
crops failed, Heather helped collect
and deliver food into the highlands
to the otherwise-starving mission-
aries.
Moving to Alice Springs, Heather
again taught RE in the primary
school and her second child was
born. She moved back to Heyfield
with two small children and found
work visiting and ministering with
young families. She remembers
there was a real need for ministry
among young parents in the 1970s.
She also continued teaching Sun-
day school and playing the organ in
church.
After a while, Heather took an
opportunity to move to Canberra
and work in team ministry and a
ministry role in a secondary school
in Canberra. It was here, working
with children with learning diffi-
culties, Heather realised there were
children at serious risk who needed
confidential help. She advocated
and wore out shoe leather speaking
about the need for a confidential
childrens help telephone line. Her
pleas fell on deaf ears; she was told
it was the parents responsibility to
help the children.
After 13 years, Heather returned
to Gippsland to be close to her age-
ing parents and work in a govern-
ment role. She lived in the old
rectory at Neerim South, an old
place with magnificent gardens.
Still involved with the church,
Heather provided music for serv-
ices.
Moving to Traralgon in 1990,
Heather became the relieving or-
ganist in Heyfield parish and was
again a member of the ministry
team visiting families having prob-
lems. She has always enjoyed team
ministry in the church.
It was long service leave and a
European tour that moved her to-
wards ordination as a deacon.
Heather said while she was praying
in a Cathedral, she felt a gentle
message that I needed to look for a
different path and that path was or-
dained ministry. A little while later,
I heard a voice telling me I needed
to learn to preach well.
Returning home, Heather sought
advice and was encouraged to
study theology by distance educa-
tion, eventually receiving her
Diploma in Ministry. Next year,
she expects to graduate with her
Graduate Diploma in Theology.
At the end of last century, Hey-
field parish had an interregnum and
Heather was offered 12 months
work. She remembers doing a
huge amount of visiting into hospi-
tals and homes. I realised then we
still needed a program for young
parents and (year) 2000 is when it
started.
While Keith South was priest in
charge of Heyfield parish, Heather
remained in an assistant role and
was again offered the interregnum
when Keith retired in early 2010.
Heyfield parish has, more many
years, had an active ministry team
and the interregnum will come to a
close again when the new incum-
bent priest is inducted.
Heather will again take on an as-
sistant role as deacon; but now she
is looking to take on more respon-
sibility. She has greatly enjoyed her
experience in team ministry over
the years and as a deacon in the in-
terregnum role but feels there is
more she can do as an ordained
priest.
I see the ministry role of the dea-
con as very important in the com-
munity, she said.
There is a challenge to bring
young people and parents in par-
ticular into a church family of faith
without them feeling they are
trapped in an institutional role.
In a lot of ways it would be eas-
ier to do that ministry role if I was
a priest. People understand the role
and authority of a priest; they dont
understand what a deacon is.
She finds the Heyfield commu-
nity very accepting of a woman in
a clerical role. This year, Heyfield
parish returned to the practice of
inviting a member of the clergy
saying a prayer at the ANZAC and
Remembrance Day services and
Heather was asked to perform this
role.
Her role as a deacon continues
very much in family ministry,
working with a ministry team, sup-
porting lay readers, playing music
at church, community visiting,
ministering with people who are ill
or passing away and leading the
service twice weekly at the local
nursing home. She is also involved
with mainly music at Heyfield.
This year Heather has taken nine
funerals (only one for someone
who was a regular member of the
congregation) and took two bap-
tisms last year.
I know God has called me to
work in ministry with people and
Ill continue doing it for as long as
I feel able, Heather said about her
role.
ABOVE: Reverend Heather Cahill
takes a baptism in her role as Dea-
con-in-charge of Heyfield parish.
RIGHT: Reverend Heather Cahill
speaks from the pulpit of St James
Anglican church, Heyfield, follow-
ing her ordination into the Dia-
conate.
Following the Taiz Brothers visit to Victoria in
September 2011, we have decided to organise
a Taiz service every three months in the
Melbourne CBD so we can continue to pray
together!
The first prayer service will be at 7pm on Friday, 9th December
at St Francis Catholic Church, 326 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.
Right near Melbourne Central Station.
If you would like be involved with music or help set-up on the night,
please email: heidi.bryce@gmail.com
The event will be especially for 18-35s, if you are outside this age group,
please come along and bring some young people along with you!
RSVP for this event on Facebook
taiz
9
t

r

2
0
1
1
advent prayers
Join us on Facebook:
Taiz in Melbourne,
Australia
Prayers with the Taize Brothers at St Francis, 11th September 2011
Gods call to
a ministry
with people
12 Our Diocese - Links with Gahini Diocese December 2011
The Gippsland Anglican
AS part of their commitment to
rebuilding in Rwanda, Gippslands
Neville and Lynne Beaty and Frank
McKinley volunteered to spend ex-
tended time this year in Gahini dio-
cese at the Seeds of Peace project,
to assist in completing the building
works. The Seeds of Peace project
is to build a convention and acco-
modation centre to enable locals to
create a sustainable future. The
building of the centre has taken a
number of years. Lynne Beaty re-
ports here on their successful mis-
sion.
We arrived in Rwanda on Tues-
day, June 7, with enthusiasm and
determination to begin work as
soon as we possibly could. We
were very aware of the huge chal-
lenge it would be to accomplish, in
three months, trying to complete
the building work of the Seeds of
Peace project in Gahini. It was, hit
the ground running, organising,
ordering materials and hiring the
team needed.
Frank and Neville inspected the
plumbing, finding it was similar to
the first section (rebuilt on a previ-
ous trip to Gahini). All 12 bath-
rooms had to be dug down a metre
and plumbing re-done. Franks ex-
pertise was invaluable.
Shopping expeditions to Kigali
followed, to organise the many fit-
tings, bathroom items and tiles for
the whole area.
On the trips we needed to load up
with items, Gahini Diocese al-
lowed us the ute and a driver and
an interpreter and we paid the costs
and generous lunch allowances.
The tiles and larger bathroom items
had to be delivered by a truck. In
addition, Lynne made many trips to
the city on public transport, on 15-
seater mini buses. This was an ad-
venture in itself.
Kamuhire, employed during the
last trip, was re-hired for the build-
ing, with Neville in charge overall.
Kamuhire, under Nevilles instruc-
tion, hired eight workers, who were
given the incentive and encourage-
ment to work consistently for a bet-
ter pay rate. One of them, a young
student saving for a course in agri-
culture, spoke quite good English
and he became our interpreter and
reported faithfully to Neville every
morning around 6.45am to get in-
structions.
The other change made was that
instead of the traditional two-hour
lunch break, the crew agreed to
start at 7am, work until 3pm and
finish for the day. This was a good
arrangement that worked well. In-
teresting to note all the crew were
always working by 7am.
Other workers were hired as
needed; for example, six men to
dig a trench; two men to clear away
along the front and landscape, they
were also hard workers who stayed
until the end. Two men were hired
for planting and watering the grass
corms for lawn.
The plumber/electrician, while
employed by the hospital, was very
co-operative and helpful with the
work needed, and began by chang-
ing the power supply to three-
phase wiring as suggested by
Frank, which proved beneficial.
It became evident, after about six
weeks, our funding was going to
allow us to complete the project.
Local tailors were employed to
make curtains, cover cushions as
well as make uniforms for the staff.
A local cabinet-maker was em-
ployed to make four lounge suites
and beds for the whole of Gipps-
land House. Diocesan carpenters
made shelves for the kitchen for
crockery and cutlery storage.
We visited Kigali with a shopping
list that must have pleased the
shops and businesses there. Lynne
became quite friendly with many
of them.
On two occasions, Bertha, Doctor
Williams wife, was able to come
to Kigali and have an input into
some of the interior decorating and
it was her idea to use the local
Dung Art for the walls of the four
sitting rooms.
In all the following was com-
pleted:
Internal:
Twelve bathrooms with tiles,
floors and walls, basins and toilets,
tap fittings and individual instant
hot water systems in each bath-
room.
Upgraded the water supply to
inch and a half to assist the hot
water units used and for general
supply.
Plaster finishing in all rooms, 12
bedrooms, three sitting rooms and
hallways.
Painting throughout interior and
exterior, including repainting exte-
rior of first unit because paint could
not be matched.
Electrical work finished, light fit-
tings and exterior security lighting
installed.
Glazing all windows and doors.
Interior door frames and doors
and staining.
Wooden curtain rods (made lo-
cally) and curtains for all rooms.
Lounge suites and coffee tables
made by local carpenter/cabinet
maker with cushions from Rwanda
Foam covered with fabric to match
sitting room curtains; curtains
made by another local tailor.
Beds made for all rooms by same
local tradesman.
Purchased mattresses (orthope-
dic) from Rwanda Foam and pil-
lows for all beds and all bed linen,
doonas and covers, plus towels for
all four units. Total sleeping ac-
commodation is now for 30 guests.
External:
Landscaping and cement edging.
Cement paths and steps connect-
ing to entries.
Metal grids for storm water gut-
ters.
White stone along front and sides
of Gippsland House and along path
connecting to Conference Centre
and Reception.
Rock paving at rear of three of the
four units.
Built steps connecting in front to
connect with existing path running
from Gippsland House to end of
complex.
Extra Projects
WE supplied funding for comple-
tion of the external work on the un-
completed toilet block, stone
paving in the large area between
kitchen and entrance to eating area
and reception, supplied materials
and paid for labor (under diocesan
supervision and supply of laborers
as with the toilet block).
We suggested the introduction of
uniforms, so guests could tell who
was staff and who were guests.
This idea was met with enthusiasm
and staff input; a local tailor made
all blouses and skirts for the
women staff and blue shirts for the
male staff to wear with black pants
or jeans, depending on their posi-
tion. Another group was employed
to hand-embroider pockets of
blouses and shirts with Seeds of
Peace and a dove.
We introduced name tags, the
plastic slide conference type at first
and, after making some enquiries,
found one of the old choir mem-
bers (Jack) from 2004 who visited
Australia had joined three other
young people and formed a small
business organising signage and
brochures. It was good to give him
a substantial amount of work.
We also had signs made for all the
buildings, labelling Reception, Toi-
lets, Conference Centre, Gippsland
House, Accommodation.
We had a large roadside sign
made for the front of the complex,
mounted in steel frame. It had the
dove symbol and same color
scheme as the uniforms and menus.
These, too, were organised by Jack.
We overhauled and redesigned
the menu. Very few changes to
content on consultation with the
cooks, corrected mistakes and
changed format including symbol,
repeated in uniforms and signage.
Produced five laminated and bound
copies.
We introduced a few food safety
procedures to the kitchen but was
limited by time available. We pur-
chased new bins, containers for
freezer food, safer pot holders,
cleaning cloths and tea towels. We
installed a large set of shelves for
storing crockery and cutlery to save
staff running around to storeroom
each time it was needed.
We made things easier for the
cleaners (and for that matter the
guests) by removing all the cur-
taining cluttering the doors to the
10 accommodation rooms in the
Conference centre and using same
to remake and attach to the doors
for privacy of guests with easier
entry and exit. This makes them the
same as we have done in Gippsland
House.
Conclusion
DURING the seven years we
have visited Gahini diocese, some
things have not changed. Some of
those are things like making sure
there are always toilet rolls and
towels for guests; basic mainte-
nance like checking light globes,
taps and toilets regularly.
At the end of our three months we
had seen many guests visit and stay
at Seeds of Peace, with the Gipps-
land House section, completed
three years ago, booked often. We
had to ask they not book it for a
few days so we could upgrade a
few things to meet the same stan-
dard as the rest. There were a few
occasions when the whole place
was booked.
Most Saturdays saw at least one
and sometimes as many as four
weddings pass through for photog-
raphy sessions. Clearly they could
charge more, especially when
catering is not involved.
We visited other guest houses and
one in particular stood out because
of its setting, but particularly be-
cause of the level of service.
We see no reason why Seeds of
Peace could not attain this with the
right management and well trained
staff. The potential is all there and
Lynne believes there are staff there
now, who, with encouragement and
training, could become quite profi-
cient.
The staff were so happy with so
little and so receptive and appre-
ciative with anything and every-
thing we did. We felt loved and
appreciated by them.
We were happy to be able to em-
ploy a wide range of local people,
many of them for the time we were
there ourselves. The positives that
come from this exercise is that
local people are now trained and
have experience in a number of dif-
ferent work areas.
Neville has left good equipment
with some of them; for example, a
good quality tile cutter capable of
many more jobs. It is hoped future
work by the diocese will use these
workers, their new skills and their
equipment.
In all, we worked six days a
week, sometimes seven, a mixture
of organising, supervising and
hands on, but we had many
lighter moments to help us along
the way. Neville loved his team, he
teased them and they enjoyed it.
One worker became married
while we were there and requested
time off to prepare. He had a part-
ner and they had small children.
We figured it was because of well
paid continuous work that he could
now manage a wedding, so he was
given the few days off to get ready
along with a gift of money to help.
He and others were given a day
off or needed a little financial sup-
port for medical or other reasons.
Samuel, our young English-speak-
ing worker, had to enrol at the agri-
cultural college and we gave him
time off and money for fares and
other expenses.
We hope three months work
helped considerably with his fees
for college. Another man who
wanted to go into the ministry took
a day off. Each worker was paid
the same amount at the end of the
week, regardless. Neville figured
they worked six days a week, they
turned up on time every single day,
they were happy and were learning
new skills; it was money well
spent.
At the end of our time we cele-
brated with an all stops out meal
with three goats and including all
the staff at the Seeds of Peace.
After eating a huge meal, they
danced to rhythmic clapping. It
was a great way for them to finish.




































Seeds of Peace grows industry and faith
ABOVE: While in Gippsland diocese in November, Bishop Alexis
Bilindabagabo, of Gahini diocese, presented certificates of appreciation
to Neville and Lynne Beaty and Bishop John McIntyre.
Photo: Christine Morris
December 2011 Our Diocese - Links with Gahini Diocese 13
The Gippsland Anglican
Well done,
Gippsland
IN reporting on the completion of the Seeds of Peace project (see op-
posite, page 12), Neville and Lynne have other stories of people, kindness,
hospitality, generosity and friendship from their time in Gahini diocese.
A regular highlight for them was being able to worship at Mirboo Norths
link parish of Kawangire and to meet the students, their parish supports.
Finally, and most importantly, this project would not have been com-
pleted if it had not been for Peter Downs strong desire and commitment
to raise the funds needed to bring this it to completion. Margaret Downs
time spent day after day, week after week, selling tickets for the car raf-
fle was pure dedication to the cause and absolutely amazing.
Ultimately, it was the actual car money donated back to the funds that
made the difference between finishing the project to a standard we could
be proud of and for it to take bookings immediately. Well done, Gipps-
land.
Contributed by Lynne Beaty
ABOVE: Neville and Hasa before the landscaping, with, in the background, the lake Seeds of Peace overlooks
and (below) Gippsland House with landscaping complete.
Photos: Lynne Beaty
ABOVE: Bishop Alexis Bilindabagabo, of Gahini diocese, talks with mission representatives on his recent visit
to Gippsland diocese.
Photo: Graeme Macrobb
TOP: A uniformed staff member at the entrance to reception.
ABOVE: Nevilles team of workers. Neville centre back.
BELOW: Lynne with some children and their new handmade knitted
blankets from Gippsland diocese.
14 Literary and Media Reviews December 2011
The Gippsland Anglican
2011
December
3 Blessing of the Fleet and Feast of St Nicholas, Lakes
Entrance
3 Annual diocesan clergy family end of year gathering,
Bishopscourt, Sale; 11am to 5pm
4 Emergency Services Sunday, St Johns Bairnsdale
25 Christmas Day
25 Community Christmas Lunch, Cowes
Dec. 27 Jan. 1 Summer in Seaspray, Sale parish
Dec. 30 Jan. 6 Scripture Union Theos beach mission, Lakes
Entrance
2012
TBA Blessing of Ena Sheumack House; Abbey of St
Barnabas at ABeckett Park, Raymond Island
January
1 Begins: International Year of People of African Descent
Dec. 27 Jan. 1 Summer in Seaspray, Sale parish
Dec. 30 Jan. 6 Scripture Union Theos beach mission, Lakes
Entrance
7 St Nicholas church fete, Lakes Entrance
13 18 Summer under the Son conference, CMS; Philip Island;
www.cms.org.au
February
3 Intentional Pastoral Seminar, Sale; contact Archdeacon
Heather Marten at the Registry, 03 5144 2044
14 Induction of Reverend David Head as priest-in-charge,
Heyfield parish; 7.30pm
21 Shrove/Pancake Tuesday
22 Ash Wednesday
March
6 Anglican Women of Australia Gippsland 50th
celebration; 9.30am; St Pauls Cathedral, Sale; $10 per
person; RSVP to your parish representative
18 Mothering Sunday
23 - 25 Kidsplus+ Gippsland camp, Philip Island; contact parish
for application forms, or Mary Nicholls
26 Mothers Union Lady Day; St Pauls Cathedral Sale;
10am; guest Marilyn Oulds, Worldwide Mothers Union;
BYO lunch
April
1 Palm Sunday
3 Renewal of Ordination of Vows and Blessing of Oils
service, 3pm; St Pauls Cathedral, Sale
5 Maundy Thursday
6 Good Friday
8 Easter Day
25 ANZAC Day
30 - May 2 Clergy conference; The Abbey of St Barnabas,
ABeckett Park, Raymond Island
May
April 30 - May 2 Clergy conference; The Abbey of St Barnabas,
ABeckett Park, Raymond Island
18 20 Gippsland Anglican 36th annual Synod, Sale
June
13 Mothers Union June Join In
28 30 Growth in Ministry Intensive; Bishopscourt, Sale. Contact
Archdeacon Heather Marten, 03 5144 2044
July
TBA Anglican Women of Australia Sunday
September
TBA Mothers Union AGM; venue TBA
9 Back to Church Sunday
TBA Mens 34 and Womens 35 Cursillos, running parallel at
Blackwood House, Gippsland Grammar, Sale
October
7 Feast day of St Francis of Assisi
15 18 Annual clergy retreat; Pallotti College
TBA Mothers Union East Gippsland AGM, Swan Reach
TBA Womens and Mens Retreat; Palotti College
November
1 3 Growth in Ministry Intensive; Bishopscourt, Sale. Contact
Archdeacon Heather Marten, 03 5144 2044
Diocesan Calendar
Johnnys mission is love
Johnny (2011) distributed by Her-
itage HM; rated M.
JOHNNY, rated M, is a movie about the mis-
sion everyone has in the world. A young boy
is killed in a car accident and the family rela-
tionships of Dr Drew Carter and his wife, Julia
and their remaining child, Kayla, are ripped
apart. Julia was driving the car and cannot for-
give herself.
Enter a colleague, Dr Miller, with a patient,
Johnny, a foster child with leukemia. He is a
child who needs a family, the Carters are peo-
ple who need to remember how to be a family
again. What difference will Johnny make to
the tragic loss they have already experienced?
Drew sees Johnny as a chance to heal his
family. His may be a misbegotten altruistic
gesture or a genuine need to provide protec-
tion and care for this sick boy. Julia is adamant
against taking the boy in. As she says, they
have lost one child already, how can they bear
to lose another?
Meanwhile, Johnny is convinced he has a
mission in life. Bright eyes ringed with the
darkness of pain and illness, he is convinced
his mission is this new foster family.
Released in October, this family movie has
serious issues for discussion and deliberation
and may be upsetting for young children.
Johnny is available from Heritage HM Film
Distribution, www.movieschangepeople.com
and at Christian retail outlets. Telephone 07
5438 8791.
EMU Music (home of Emu congregational and
childrens albums and distributor of Sovereign Grace
Music and Garage Hymnal), is proud to welcome
Johnny Burns to the label.
Johnny (right) has been writing, recording and per-
forming childrens songs for more than 12 years. His
first album How Cool is That was released in 2000,
Praise Crazy followed in 2003, and Unreal Banana
Peel was released in 2009. In 2007, Johnny released
his live DVD, Praise Pop Party.
Philip Percival, CEO Emu Music said, We are ex-
cited to have Johnny join the Emu stable of artists.
This marks an important growth in Emus kids min-
istry as we seek to resource, encourage and reach
more people with the gospel through music. Johnny
is a successful artist with a real songwriting talent, a
wealth of music ability and the confidence to deliver
in a live performance.
Johnny said of the relationship, Being with Emu
Music feels like the right fit for where my ministry
is now. They are progressivewith their approach to
music and value a solid theology, fundamentals that
complement my work. I look forward to working
with the team at Emu in the years to come as we ex-
pand kids music ministry.
Johnny is currently writing and recording his new
album which is due for release nextyear.
For more information on Johnny Burns please visit
www.johnnyburns.com.au
The Bethlehem Road
BETHLEHEM Road brings together many of the
songs that appeared on the four Bethlehem albums
released by Windwood Studios between 1990 and
1998: Our God Reigns (1990), Behold Your King
(1992), Christ For Us (1995) and Come to the Wa-
ters (1998). It also contains one song, Only Jesus,
recorded in 2000 as a bonus track for the new edition
of Christ For Us.
Many of these songs live on and are still being sung
and still being discovered, even though most of the
original albums are now out of print.
Rob Smith shares that the purpose of this compila-
tion is not only to preserve a record of these songs,
but to enable Gods people, particularly those whose
original cassettes have long since perished, to access
them, enjoy them and continue to make use of them.
Its my prayer that they might keep doing the job
they were designed to do; providing the churches of
Jesus Christ with songs that proclaim Gods word
and vehicles for singing his praises.
Hymns for contemporary Christians
EMU has, for the first time compiled a collection
of classic hymn words (from writers such as Luther,
Watts, Wesley and Newton) with original new
music. Each song presents a great way to engage
with the doctrinal and poetic depth of some of Chris-
tianitys greatest lyricists; combining ancient truth
with contemporary melodies.
Philip Percival, Executive Director Emu Music,
comments: In recent years, contemporary churches
have been rediscovering the rich material in tradi-
tional hymns. While many original hymn tunes are
as fine today as when they were first sung, others
will be harder to use in modern congregational
singing.
We were keen, therefore, to throw in some fresh
ideas to keep the singing of traditional hymns alive
in the church.
Talented songwriters contributing to the contem-
porary new tunes include Luke and Vicki Wood-
house, Trevor Hodge, Richard Simpkin, Nicky
Chiswell, Rob Smith and Philip Percival.
Tracks include Come, let us join our cheerful songs
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, Glorious thing of you
are spoken, Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven!,
O Breath of Life.
Breath of Life is now available from Emu music
website www.emumusic.com.au and all good Chris-
tian retail stores.
Christian music expanding
December 2011 Literary and Media Reviews 15
The Gippsland Anglican
In pain and seeking help
Christmas movie
for all the family
By Jeanette Severs
Christmas with a Capital C: Putting Christ back
into Christmas (2011) distributed by Heritage HM
THIS film begins with spectacular panoramas of the
Alaskan landscape and the photography is well done
throughout. It sets the scene for taking the twin stories of the
greatest story ever told being subject to global forces and
small town and person rivalries, with a focus on Christmas.
There is the side story about young love set in a contem-
porary setting, where the boy and girl are sporting rivals. It
is a nice change from the sports jock and cheerleader
matchups which are regular Hollywood fare.
There is the bigger story of Christmas in a modern context,
where often Christ is forgotten in the commercialism of what
Christmas has become.
There is the main story of rivalry. The petty jealousies of
small towns and the personal rivalries between two men who
have grown up but although one of them has moved on phys-
ically and spiritually from his youth, he is still emotionally
tied to his childhood memories.
It is in this context we meet Dan, the local mayor, his wife
Kristin and their children Cody and Mikayla. Dans family,
his brother, Greg, and their friends are Christians. Dan is also
facing re-election and Christmas time is approaching with
its traditions, including the nativity scene on public display.
The wooden statues were made and donated to the council
for public use by their maker 50 years previously.
Enter Mitch, Dans boyhood rival. Mitch has returned after
20 years living and working in the city and he has big ideas.
He is also, in the style of Dickens Scrooge, bah-humbug
about Christmas and tables a petition to prevent the nativity
scene or any religious reflection of Christmas to be used in
the town, including making the council and shop owners take
down banners referring to Christmas and replacing them
with Happy Holiday greetings. No one is allowed to say
Happy Christmas in public spaces.
Mitch challenges Dan that Christians are arrogant and big-
oted. Dans response is, if you leave your origins behind, do
you lose your faith?
The rivalry escalates and Mitch reports Dans young
daughter, Mikayla, to the police for singing Christmas car-
ols in public, dressed as an angel. She is arrested.
Based on the hit song by Go Fish, a music hit in 2006,
Christmas with a capital C is very much a family movie and
to be recommended especially at Christmas time, or any time
of the year. Like the greatest story ever told, it is full of in-
trigue, surprises and interesting characters. It is also unique
in that there is no violence, whether in voice or action, in the
movie. Recommended for all ages.
Heritage HM; released in November. Available online at
www.movieschangepeople.com or at Christian retail outlets.
By Jeanette Severs
The Potential Inside (2011)
distributed by Heritage HM; PG
THE Potential Inside, rated PG, will
cause you to weep. The long sequence
in the beginning illustrates the techni-
cal and physical challenges of elite
sport, in this case, international moun-
tain bike racing. Anything that re-
quires this degree of dedication is a
form of obsession, or akin to alco-
holism, as pointed out to Chris by his
wife as their lives fall apart. She is re-
ferring to his fathers alcoholism but it
is not what Chris wants to hear.
In the circumstances where the worst
that can happen to us, does, how will
we cope and what will we do? Chris
has won more than 250 races in a 15
year career. He has married and sired
a daughter in that time.
Life, as the narrative voice says, is a
lot like a bicycle race. Is it?
The Potential Inside makes light ref-
erences to drugs in sport, addiction is-
sues, parent guilt, how obsessions can
take over and cause you to miss out on
the good things in life and the life of
competitive sport and its affect on
families. As the narrator says, when a
man leaves his wife alone for so much
time, after a while she realises she is
alone. She realises she does not need
him anymore, especially if something
happens and he cannot make himself
be there for her, for the two of them to
heal together.
Chris has forgotten about God in his
life, although he is surrounded by
those who have not, such as his wife
and coach. A terrible accident occurs
and Chris falls into a rapid decline,
blaming God. After all, what kind of
God lets bad things happen?
For those who have trouble with this
same question, this film does begin to
respond to this question. It does not
provide an answer, but shows direc-
tion and focuses on how people can
heal after tragic events. The Potential
Inside helps discuss the choice to ac-
cept what is or accept what is not.
An enjoyable, although sometimes
mildly frustrating movie, recom-
mended for all. The death of a child
will need to be explained to young
children, as the child is briefly in the
movie and then gone forever.
Distributed by Heritage HM,
www.moveschangepeople.com or at
Christian retail stores.
THE Melbourne Gospel Choir has joined forces
with ABC Music, Australias largest independent
record label, to release the star-studded album Free-
dom, supported and promoted by World Vision Aus-
tralia.
Melbourne Gospel Choir is passionate about work-
ing with World Vision to draw attention to the injus-
tice of human trafficking and put an end to slavery
and exploitation, especially of children.
Their vision is one of hope and transformation, their
songs uplifting and upbeat, their message confident
and full of joy, with inspiring pop-gospel hits like
Higher, Freedom and Break the Chains. Traditional
gospel classics are enthusiastically covered featuring
Swing Low, Joyful, Joyful and This Little Light of
Mine.
Highlights of the album include performances by in-
ternationally renowned stars, Guy Sebastian and Mar-
cia Hines, and the inspirational track Through the
Stormwritten by Choir director, Judd Field, especially
for the Toowoomba Queensland flood victims.
Melbourne Gospel Choir is well known around Aus-
tralia through regular TV appearances. The Choir has
backed national and international artists Delta
Goodrem, Westlife, Guy Sebastian, James Morrison,
Marina Prior, Marcia Hines, Natalie Basingthwaite,
Dame Edna Everage, Vanessa Amorosi, Silvie Pal-
adino and David Campbell, to name a few.
Its members are successful artists in their own right,
including numerous television performers, theatre
stars and well-known professionals.
Gospel choir
releases album
for World Vision
Bible reaches 400
KJB: The Book That Changed the World
(2011) distributed by Heritage HM
NARRATED by the deep clipped tones of John Rhys-
Davies, this story of intrigues, colorful characters, rival-
ries and vision is the amazing tale of the birth of the
King James Bible. King James was a man of vision and
one of the most blood thirsty kings of Britain.
Out of this mixture arose the long scholarly epic called
the King James Bible. This year is the 400th anniver-
sary of the publishing of the KJB. This DVD would
make an ideal Christmas present.
Heritage HM; released in November. Available online
at www.movieschangepeople.com or Christian retailers.
16 Our Diocese - Faith Issues December 2011
The Gippsland Anglican
By Chris Bennie
WORKSHOP 1.1: Has the
Church lost its way? A Workshop
on Discipleship led by Bishop
Michael Hough. The workshop at
St Thomas church, Bunyip fol-
lowed the morning Eucharist.
There were 14 people present, with
one person from outside the parish.
What followed was a lively teach-
ing and discussion session.
Bishop Michael started by speak-
ing about Geoffrey Blaineys most
recent book, A Short History of
Christianity. Blainey says there has
always been a battle to get people
to come to worship. We, the
Church, are small now but have al-
ways been small relative to the
wider community.
Michael asked us to think about
the question: What is the Church?
We have come to think of it as the
building we worship in on Sun-
days. We say the Church is the
mystical body of Christ; the wor-
shipping People of God; the
Catholic Church. The Church, in
Greek; ecclesia, in Hebrew qahal,
means the community that gath-
ers. How do we see ourselves now,
what steps do we need to take to
move from the notion of the
Church as the building we meet in,
to the Church as a gathered faith
community?
At the moment we are like this in
relation to the world: Us [space]
and [space] the World
How, then, do we connect to the
world? What is the basis upon
which we can connect to the rest of
humanity? It is this: All people are
made in the image and likeness of
God (Gen 1; 26). God breathed
into the dust making man alive
(Gen 2; 7); and he saw his creation
was good: thus every person is
made in Gods image and likeness:
so the world is important to us, be-
cause it is his world, which he cre-
ated.
How do we experience our world
and how do we go about living in
it? The world is a rat race and we
fill our time with stuff. We need to
ask ourselves: Who am I? Why
am I here? What does it mean to be
fully human?
What went wrong then; how did
we become like this? Paradise is
when God is at the centre. When I
put myself in the centre it all goes
wrong. In the Garden, Adam said
I can be God. Things only go
wrong when the I takes over: I
am OK when I am in charge, I say:
Yes, I can be God. But this is not
so: we are only truly human when
God is the centre.
To save mankind, God had to put
Adam and Eve out of the garden to
protect them from the Tree of Life
which would have compounded the
problem. So he put them outside
the garden as an act of mercy. He
clothed Adam and Eve to protect
them from the abuse of others.
Later in Genesis, the story of the
Tower of Babel is another about
how God intervenes to prevent us
in our attempting to be like God
with the I at the centre when we re-
ally can only be Divine by allow-
ing God to BE at the centre and in
and through us: to BE God in cre-
ation.
What we, the Church, have to
offer the world is really counter
cultural. If we were just like the
world, why would the world be in-
terested? Church is not just a com-
munity gathered around a building
on Sunday. We should be feeding
our whole week back into the Sun-
day.
Are we doomed as a World? Not
if we respond to Gods call. From
Genesis we see Gods merciful re-
sponse to Adam and Eves sin: he
clothes them to protect them, he
puts them outside the garden to
protect them from eating of the tree
of eternal life in their fallen state.
Genesis shows that God really
cares about what happens to us:
after the flood he puts the rainbow
in the sky to remind himself not to
send another flood to destroy us.
Bishop Michael drew our atten-
tion to Gods response to mans
sin: it was to call Abram (Genesis
12:1ff). All renewal is about re-
turning to the way God means
things to be, with there being only
one God and that God: YHWH. He
called Abraham to leave his coun-
try, his family and his fathers
house for a land he would show
him, promising to make him a
great nation. He called Abraham to
make big sacrifices in his life as he
also calls us to do.
Bishop Michael then drew our at-
tention to the Gospel of Matthew.
In the Feeding of the 5000, a huge
crowd of people had followed
Jesus into the wilderness; away
from the distractions of town life,
to be taught by him. It was getting
late.
The disciples came to Jesus and
asked him to send them away be-
cause there was not enough food to
feed them. Jesus response was to
say to them, You feed them.
They tell him how little food they
have. Jesus tells them, Bring the
food to me.
There is a strong use of Eucharis-
tic language here: the crowd have
followed him from the busy,
worldly town into the wilderness.
Here Jesus uses the small amount
of food they have with them to feed
all who are there, away from the
distractions of the town. The way
forward for us is to go to find him
out into the wilderness.
God sent Jesus to become a man
with all aspects of our human exis-
tence, ultimately to suffer and to
die. We are called to do what Jesus
does. In Luke Chapter 4, in the
synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus reads
from the prophet Isaiah:
The spirit of the Lord is upon me,
Because he has anointed me to
preach good news to the to the
poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release
to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind
To set at liberty those who are op-
pressed,
To proclaim the acceptable year of
the Lord.
He tells them, This scripture has
been fulfilled in your hearing
today.
What are we to do then? Where
do we see ourselves? Matthew tells
us in detail in his Gospel. We are
Christs body; we are called to
what Christ does. It is ALL our re-
sponsibility; our starting point is to
bring to God the little that we have.
Do I believe this?
In conclusion, Bishop Michael
asked, Does the Church have a fu-
ture here in Australia? The answer
to this question clearly has to be
yes and no.
Yes, it has a future if it returns to
its centre and if each and every in-
dividual believer and faith commu-
nity truly repents and truly sets out
to give witness to the Kingdom of
God in the world. The Church will
not fail, shrink, disappear and die
in Australia if it becomes a faithful
and prophetic community in the
world, if it reveals the saving, lib-
erating and loving presence of
Jesus Christ among the men and
women of this planet.
The Church will not fail if it is
genuinely focussed on carrying out
its vocation among the people of
this world. To do this, it first of all
has to live it and that is our chal-
lenge.
The Church will most surely
continue to fall apart, shrink and
die here in Australia if we continue
to spend more time on ourselves
than on our true mission and min-
istry in the world. If we continue
our internal squabbling, our parti-
san theologies, our failure to live
spiritual lives, our failures in holi-
ness and our lack of genuine en-
gagement with the poor, the
marginalised and those who do not
know Christ. If the Church is not a
genuine sacrament, then it has no
role and like so many other institu-
tions it will pass.
We can learn so much about our
vocation through our encounters
with the living God in and through
the Scriptures, the Sacraments and
through sharing these things to-
gether as faith communities. We
need to relearn the importance of
listening to the God who has been
carved into our hearts, who is
speaking to us anew, who is offer-
ing us a ministry of great signifi-
cance and importance in todays
world. Yes, the Church has a future
if we are prepared to take some big
risks, to undergo sacrifices and
pains and are willing to take Jesus
promises to heart.
It is asking a great deal of each
and every believer and unless each
and every believer responds, the
Church as we know it will continue
to shrink away. However, if each
and every believer, I stress that,
each and every believer seeks to
renew their lives as faithful mis-
sionaries who are called and em-
powered for a ministry in the
world, then all will be well. Our in-
stitutional framework will change
shape, will take on new forms of
ministry and will use language that
will shock and challenge many of
us, but it will renew itself and will
find its rightful God-given role in
creation. We believe this for we
know the gates of hell will not pre-
vail against two or three people
who gather in the name of Jesus
and who build their lives on the
rock which is Christ, the Son of the
living God, our Lord and our Sav-
iour.
Workshop discusses
modern Christianity
By Russell Powell
THE 49th Synod of the Diocese of Sydney, held in October, has op-
posed the adoption of the Anglican Communion covenant, after being
told it was theologically flawed and the wrong approach to the crisis in
world Anglicanism.
A motion, moved by the Head of Department of Theology, Philosophy
and Ethics at Moore College, Dr Mark Thompson, opposed the adoption
of the Covenant by the Anglican Church of Australia.
In September, the Sydney Standing Committee issued a report on the
Covenant and that report was presented in Synod papers and supported
by Dr Thompson and seconder, Robert Tong.
The report detailed five serious theological objections to the covenant,
saying it was fundamentally concerned with maintaining structural and
institutional unity rather than biblical faithfulness.
The real problem it says is a departure from the teaching of Scrip-
ture.
Dr Thomspon says Undoubtedly the Anglican Communion Covenant
has been put together by those with heartfelt concern for the predicament
the Communion finds itself in. Undoubtedly those who made the origi-
nal suggestion and drew up this covenant did so honestly and with in-
tegrity. Nevertheless, as you can see, the report prepared for our synod
concludes with the recommendation that we oppose the adoption of the
Anglican Communion Covenant.
He said the report found the covenant was the wrong approach, had se-
rious theological flaws and would not solve the crisis in world Angli-
canism.
Those who have created the problem wont sign it; and if they did with-
out repenting of the departures from the teaching of Scripture it would
only demonstrate the uselessness of the covenant itself. What is more, a
number of orthodox Anglican provinces throughout the world have al-
ready indicated they wont sign it for various other reasons. There are se-
rious questions about how it could be effectively adopted under the
constitution of the Anglican Church of Australia. It might be adopted by
resolution but would this have any force? Dr Thompson says.
Dr Thompson urged support of GAFCON and the Fellowship of Con-
fessing Anglicans as a better way to respond to the current issues in the
communion.
The motion calls for the Standing Committee report on the covenant to
be sent to the Standing Committee of the Australian General Synod.
The decision of Sydney Synod is similar to the conclusion drawn by the
GAFCON Primates at their London conference a year ago.
The Primates Communique said ...while we acknowledge that the ef-
forts to heal our brokenness through the introduction of an Anglican
Covenant were well intentioned we have come to the conclusion the cur-
rent text is fatally flawed and so support for this initiative is no longer
appropriate.
Sydney Synod opposes
the Anglican covenant
ABOVE: Archdeacon Heather Marten, Vicar General of Gippsland dio-
cese, in the foreground, speaks during the examination by Bishop John
McIntyre of ordination candidates, Reverends Roger Jackman and Tom
Killingbeck, at St Pauls Anglican Cathedral, Sale. Roger is at Croajin-
golong parish and Tom is in charge at Bruthen parish.
Photo: Jeanette Severs
December 2011 Our Diocese - Faith Issues 17
The Gippsland Anglican
Gippsland opposes
same sex marriage
FEDERAL Parliament has been told the ma-
jority of Gippslanders who responded to a re-
cent survey, were opposed to same sex
marriage. The survey was distributed in all
local newspapers by Federal MP and member
of The Nationals, Darren Chester.
The survey was returned by 700 people with
64 per cent of respondents opposing same sex
marriage and 26 per cent in favor, according to
Mr Chester (right). A further 10 per cent were
unsure.
Mr Chester told Parliament in August that he
did not support proposals to change the Mar-
riage Act.
The definition of marriage under the cur-
rent legislation provides certainty and stability
and Im not convinced there is a need to
change, Mr Chester said.
I acknowledge there are strong views to the
alternative but I believe the majority of Gipps-
landers support my position.
Mr Chester told Parliament that all parties
should allow MPs to have a conscience vote on
the issue if legislation is introduced.
Currently there is no legislation before the
House of Representatives but if it is introduced
at some stage in the future, I believe it should
be the subject of a conscience vote, Mr
Chester said.
Just like the rest of the community, there are
MPs on both sides of the Chamber who have
differing views, reflecting the diversity of elec-
torates throughout Australia.
This debate will continue and it is important
it occurs in a respectful and moderate manner.
My position on this issue is not meant to be
disrespectful to people who hold strong views
to the contrary, but I believe the majority of
Gippslanders support a more traditional view
of marriage.
By Kate Higgins
KATE Higgins is Anglicords Pacific
Program Manager, based in Solomon Is-
lands, a small nation comprised of more
than 900 islands in the Pacific Ocean,
where there are some of the highest rates
of violence against women in the world.
She writes about her experience and pro-
vides a cautionary warning.
I am surprised and sometimes bewil-
dered at how different life seems in the
Solomon Islands. The children who have
never seen a white person before crying
because they think theyve seen a ghost;
everyone says good morning or hello to
me; and the daily sweat up the hill, the
walk to work in 100 per cent humidity, all
the time thinking that I will never grum-
ble about not getting a seat on the tram
ever again. While close to Australia, it
can feel like I am on the other side of the
world.
While comparisons are inevitable in the
throes of culture shock, essentially we are
all the same: all people require food and
shelter, we all enjoy a joke, we all want
to love and be loved and we all require
safety from violence.
Every woman in every country has the
right to be safe from violence and abuse.
In Australia, however, around one woman
per week is killed by a partner or ex-part-
ner. Violence against women and children
costs the economy $13.6 billion a year.
One in three women have experienced vi-
olence from a partner or ex-partner.
In Solomon Islands, it is almost two in
three women and a recent study has found
64 per cent of women aged between 15
and 49 years have been physically and or
sexually abused. Women in Solomon Is-
lands are experiencing some of the high-
est rates of violence in the world.
Last month, the Anglican Diocese of
Melbourne voted unanimously to adopt a
policy to prevent violence against
women. Anglicord has always been an
advocate of womens rights, so it made
sense for us to address the situation at
home, too. Personally, I was excited to be
taking part in the formation of this policy
under the initiative of Reverend Scott
Holmes and with other members of the
Social Responsibility Committee. How-
ever, I couldnt have known the coinci-
dence that lay ahead.
A few weeks into work in Solomon Is-
lands I found myself sitting with the Gen-
eral Secretary of The Anglican Church of
Melanesia, George Kiriau. I would have
never expected such a busy man to start
talking of his passion for ending violence
against women.
He told me: Violence against our moth-
ers and sisters is not restricted to rich or
poor, leaders or followers, rural or urban,
to particular language or kastoms [cul-
tural practices of different ethnic groups
of tribes]. Violence affects us right
throughout our society in Solomons Is-
lands, including our churches.
I can see the problem for myself, in Ho-
niara and out in the villages, where it is
exacerbated by high unemployment, drug
and alcohol abuse and urban migration,
combined with the low status of women.
In the Mothers Union office, not a day
goes by when a woman does not come to
seek help from the MU volunteers be-
cause they have experienced violence in
their homes. The Anglican Sisters of the
Church run the only womens refuge in
the country, which is often at capacity and
can usually only help women from Ho-
niara and surrounds; the Sisters work tire-
lessly to provide support to women who
are severely traumatised.
George invited me to join the church
leaders to brainstorm why this situation
was occurring, at such unacceptable lev-
els, and what could be done to prevent it.
The head of the Justice, Peace and Rec-
onciliation department, Father Mark Gra-
ham, pointed out that violence is a
product of conflict, and conflict has root
causes... We need to look at the root
causes of conflict and work towards stop-
ping this conflict from turning into vio-
lence.
The head of the Churchs programs, Fr
Patteson Worek, from Vanuatu, argued
the Church had a role in addressing the
culture dynamics, especially this
Melanesian myth about family violence
being private business between a hus-
band and wife. We then drew a vio-
lence tree which outlined all the root
causes of violence and the fruits of their
result.
After this, the same conclusion was
reached as in Australia: the need for pre-
vention. The Anglican Church in
Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Cale-
donia in their November Synod passed a
resolution adopting a statement con-
demning family violence and to establish
a committee to, over the next three years,
look at how the Church can address this
issue and prevent this violence from hap-
pening in the first place.
So we have two resolutions passed in
two Synods, both far apart in culture but
together in the Anglican Communion,
both aiming to prevent violence against
women, both recognising that for the
Church to remain a relevant part of our
society, it must practice what it preaches
in terms of compassion, peace and jus-
tice. It needs to work toward a better fu-
ture where women are not subjected to
violence and abuse.
George says he believes God is mov-
ing through organisations both interna-
tionally and locally to recognise the
problem of family violence. God is mov-
ing through these organisations to stand
against violence in the family.
He is excited by it. I hope he is right.
Both a copy of the discussion paper and
policy is available from www.an-
glicord.org.au
Anglican response to stop
violence against women
PROFESSOR Patrick Parkinson is a special-
ist in family law, child protection and the law
of equity and trusts. His books include Family
Law and the Indissolubility of Parenthood
(2011), Tradition and Change in Australian
Law (4th ed, 2010), Australian Family Law in
Context (4th ed, 2009), The Voice of a Child
in Family Law Disputes (with Judy Cashmore,
2008), Child Sexual Abuse and the Churches
(2nd ed, 2003) and Principles of Equity (edi-
tor, 2nd ed., 2003).
Prof. Parkinson served from 2004 to 2007 as
Chairperson of the Family Law Council, an
advisory body to the federal Attorney- Gen-
eral and chaired a review of the Child Support
Scheme in 2004 to 2005 which led to the en-
actment of major changes to the Child Support
Scheme. He is President of the International
Society of Family Law.
Prof. Parkinson is also well-known for his
community work concerning child protection.
He has been a member of the NSW Child Pro-
tection Council and was Chairperson of a
major review of the state law concerning child
protection which led to the enactment of the
Children and Young Persons (Care and Pro-
tection) Act 1998. He also works with
churches on child protection issues.
Following is an excerpt from Archbishop
Peter Jensens presidents address to Sydney
Diocesan Synod in October, when Abp Jensen
refers to Prof. Parkinsons work.
Professor Patrick Parkinsons analysis of the
experience of children today is alarming. More
than a quarter of young people aged between
16 to 24 years have a mental disorder. There
is an increasing incidence of selfharming be-
havior, especially among girls.
Binge drinking and early teen sexual behav-
iour is becoming moreprevalent. Foster care
programs are stretched to the limit as children
need to be rescued from abuse or neglect
intheir own homes.
He remarks, The crisis in child protection is
just part of a broader pattern of serious deteri-
oration in the wellbeing of many children and
young people, It is a warning sign that all is
not well with society as a whole.
Close to the heart of what Parkinson is get-
ting at is the state of families. He points to the
fact that so many young people no longer live
with their biological parents as one of the key
reasons for the fragile state of our children and
our homes. As Christians we have Gods mind
on marriage: a man and a woman, publicly
promising exclusive and permanent fidelity to
each other, in sickness and in health until death
do us part.
We do not need the statistics to tell us, and
they do, that generally speaking such a union
is best for the husband and wife and best by
far for the children. But the remorseless liber-
tarianism of modern society, the determination
that each person chart their own course with-
out regard to God or the law of God, has led to
an astonishing collapse of confidence in mar-
riage as good for most people.
Not surprisingly cohabitation is notoriously
fragile and unstable; it does not make for
human happiness or well-being and it is not
good for children. The missing ingredient is
commitment, a public commitment in the mar-
riage vows. The strange spectacle of partners
inventing their own marriage vows is yet an-
other indication of the way in which we have
lost our sense of transcendence, of public ob-
ligation, of family. Personal taste trumps what
is needed and what is right.
Yet without commitment clearly and publicly
made, we continue to hold back a sovereign
part of ourselves and enter marriage with an
if, an as long as. There is a cultural malaise
here. A tsunami is beginning which, should it
be unchecked, will engulf us. At the base of it
the problem is spiritual. It is sin and evil, bro-
ken promises and broken hearts, our abandon-
ment of God and our elevation of the
individual self to the throne.
Abp Jensen speaks about
childrens safety in marriage
18 Our Diocese - Parishes December 2011
The Gippsland Anglican
AS part of the morning service on Sunday, November 13, Bairnsdale
parishioners gave thanks for Johnnos Outreach Centre volunteers. Vari-
ous volunteers spoke about the duties and work that make Johnnos so
successful . There are 80 volunteers on the roster and quite a few do not
belong to the church congregations; some volunteers have a permanent
day on the roster, others can be called upon for a vacant slot. A commit-
tee of 10 oversees the running of the shop. Chairman John Fraser and
secretary Max Prendergast look after the big shed, which sells donated
furniture. John organises the trolleymen who collect all the donations
from the church hall and take them to be sorted and priced at a different
venue, much of it washed and ironed before being returned to Johnnos.
.nce the new extension is finished everything is expected to be under one
roof.
A prayer of thanks was given by Reverend Tony Wicking for all this
work done by volunteers, as well as for people who wash, iron, clean
shoes, wash and repair toys, organise rag bags for sale and look after the
shop 5 1/2 days each week.
Johnnos was opened in 2007 under Annabel Gibsons guidance, who
is still volunteers co-ordinator and contact person. The income from the
shop helps to support Amanda Ballantyne, Bairnsdales Youth and Fam-
ily Worker; five per cent of takings goes to church missions and five per
cent is donated to local organisations as well as paying off a loan for the
much needed extension. It is hoped a dinner will be held in the New Year
to celebrate the opening of a new Johnnos Outreach Centre.
Clifton Waters Village Variety Group again excelled itself in its latest
production Around the World and Back to Clifton Waters. Once again di-
rected by Pat Taylor and especially written for the group by her son Tony,
an actor, it was a musical comedy, well received by delighted audiences.
Dorothy Legge accompanied songs brilliantly on the piano.
Contributed by Ursula Plunkett
ABOVE: Margaret Davidson, Betty Widdis and Annabel Gibson are
among the 80 volunteers who staff the Johnnos Outreach Centre in
Bairnsdale.
Photo: Ursula Plunkett
FROM September, the Parish
Councils of Boolarra, Yinnar and
Churchill have held joint meetings,
to try and make administration eas-
ier when the new minister is ap-
pointed. Meetings will be held
alternatively in Yinnar and
Churchill.
Reverend Dr Des Parker had his
final service in the parish on Octo-
ber 30, at Holy Innocents Yinnar
South. As he had other commit-
ments that day, a farewell lunch
followed the service at Yinnar on
October 23. Members present ex-
pressed their appreciation for his
work while our supply minister.
The Advisory Board is drawing
up a parish profile in preparation
for selecting a new minister. In the
past 12 months we have been
working together to form one
parish.
Rev. Tony Peters was the supply
minister for November.
Operation Christmas Child boxes
were collected and sent to needy
children overseas, as in previous
years.
Contributed by Rae Billing
ABOVE: The combined parish
council of Boolarra Yinnar and
Churchill at its October meeting:
(left to right) Glenda Combridge,
Ian Combridge, Robyn Maugher,
Betty Reid, Robern Lubawski,
John Lubawski, Rev. Dr Des
Parker, Rose La Vie, Ros Jackson,
Ruth Lloyd and Shelia Crookston.
Photo: Ruth Place
Forward
focus
ST THOMAS Bunyip staged
their annual flower show in the
Bunyip Public Hall again this year,
on November 5. The flower show
is considered one of the longest
running events in the area. Using
the public hall rather than St
Thomas provides more room to
stage the displays and makes it eas-
ier to cope with the increase in
numbers of exhibitors and visitors.
The day was beautiful and sunny,
a welcome gap in the rain we had
been experiencing, encouraging a
good number of people to come
out and see what we had to offer.
Single specimens, arrangements of
flowers, photographs, the school
coloring competition and various
stalls ensured there was something
for many interests. Devonshire teas
and a sausage sizzle tempted the
taste buds all day long.
The group of people who organ-
ised the event were very busy, but
visitors and volunteers alike con-
cluded the day was a great success.
Contributed by Heather Clarke
TOP: Visitors admiring the entries
at St Thomas Flower Show.
ABOVE right: Georgie Campbell,
flower arrangement demonstrator,
who donated all her arrangements.
Photos: Chris Bennie
Bl ooms
galore
Some prizewinning entries.
ABOVE: Reverend Ron Cozens and his wife, Phyllis were each
presented with an award for their volunteer work at Banksia Lodge
following the service at Christ Church, Foster on November 20.
The awards were from Prom Coast Aged Care, recognising the
past 10 years of volunteer service by Ron and Phyllis. Parish coun-
cillor Dianne Paragreen presented the awards to the popular cou-
ple, who have given a great deal of their time to volunteering in the
community since retiring to live at Sandy Point.
Contributed by/Photo: Carole Williams
Volunteers honored
December 2011 Our Diocese - Parishes 19
The Gippsland Anglican
Vale, Margaret
THE recent death of Margaret
Smallbone at Sale brought to an
end a long association with our
Cathedral and the Diocese lasting
well over 50 years. Coming first to
Sale in the 1950s with her husband
Denys, a member of the British
RAF posted to East Sale, they were
welcomed by Dean Alexander and
quickly absorbed into the local
scene, with Denys becoming a lay
reader and Margaret teaching.
On completion of the term of
service at East Sale, they returned
to England where Denys trained
for the ministry and was ordained
in Gloucester Cathedral. In 1969,
they returned to Sale where Denys
became Precentor, a role for which
he was well qualified.
In 1971, Denys and Margaret an-
swered the call to Yarram where
they loved the South Gippsland
scene and found a holiday home at
the old Post Office at Port Albert,
from where they were very hos-
pitable and entertained many offi-
cial diocesan visitors.
Even after parish moves to Leon-
gatha, Toora and the Cathedral, it
was to Port Albert they returned for
rest and recreation and eventually
to retire. Margaret was a gracious
hostess and her artistic and musi-
cal skills enriched many parishes.
She was organist at St Johns Port
Albert for many years. Margaret
was active in Mothers Union and
wrote the monthly notes for Moth-
ers Union in the diocesan newspa-
per The Gippsland Anglican for
many years. Her funeral was con-
ducted from St Pauls Cathedral
Sale.
Contributed by Ted Gibson
Jan at the
Manse
THE co-operating parish of
Neerim South was recently visited
by Reverend Jan St James. In early
November, parishioners and
friends spent a busy three days re-
newing old friendships and enter-
taining Rev. Jan St James, who was
the incumbent in the parish some
years ago.
On Friday a well attended sweets
and coffee night was hosted by
Rev. Dr John Batt at the manse
(above right), setting the scene for
a socially enjoyable weekend.
On Saturday morning, a walk
along the Rokeby Rail Trail with
the Jolly Walkers of Neerim
South concluded with a barbecue
at the Rokeby Reserve, giving Jan
the opportunity to meet with her
friends from the Jolly Walkers
and catch up with their news.
In the evening a pizza night was
held at the home of John and Beth
Delzoppo.
Mine host was kept busy cooking
gourmet pizzas (right) for the hun-
gry guests, who enjoyed the long
evening sitting in the beautiful sur-
roundings of the garden and lazily
wiling away the hours .
Sunday saw a change of pace
with Rev. Jan and Rev. John jointly
conducting Caf Church at the
Noojee Store at 9 am and a family
service at St Johns, Neerim South
at 10.30 a.m. After the service
there was time to chat over a cup of
tea and say our last farewells.
Contributed by Joy Andrews
Photos: Clem Watts
ABOVE: Each year, Trafalgar has a community festival spreads through-
out October. A number of our parishioners took part in the annual play
presented by the Trafalgar Amateur Drama Society, this year called The
Goodbridge Million. The story was about a parish given $1 million from
a wealthy patron and discussion was held on how to spend it, with the
audience encouraged to participate with ideas. The acting was once again
of a high standard and the public enjoyed the three performances. The
money raised will go to maintain the public hall. This was another one of
the Battle of Trafalgar events.
Contributed by Marg Clarke
Photo: Traf News
Butchering millions
Orbost
parish
fete
Photos from the Or-
bost parish fete held
on November 19.
Photos: Barry Miller
ABOVE: Playing at the Jazz into Spring service at Yarram were Ernie
Walker, Alan Jones, Ian Richardson, David Rebbecki and David Graham.
Photo: Jacki Walker
20 Our Diocese - Parishes December 2011
The Gippsland Anglican
Stepping up at Lakes
Entrance and Metung
TWO new Pastoral Care Assis-
tants for St Nicholas, parish of
Lakes Entrance and Metung were
presented with their certificates re-
cently. Reverend Canon Barb
Logan presented Pastoral Care
Certificates to the Rectors Warden,
Kevin Kramer and Peoples War-
den, Sandra McMaster (above).
Kevin and Sandra have recently
qualified for the role and are both
very keen to be involved in Pas-
toral Care.
Education For Ministry partici-
pant, Terry McMaster (right) de-
livered his sermon to the
congregation at St Nicholas, Lakes
Entrance recently. Terry is a first
year participant of Education for
Ministry. Rev. Barb Logan has
been encouraging EFM partici-
pants to be part of the Sunday serv-
ice each month. So far, Alan
Marchant from St Johns at
Metung and Wendy Nickson from
St Nicholas Lakes Entrance have
given their talk. Both Alan and
Wendy are in their third year of
study; EFM is a four year course.
Contributed by Sandra McMaster
Blessing fleet at Yarram
THE congregation at Holy Trin-
ity, Yarram has enjoyed two special
events in recent weeks; the Bless-
ing of the Fleet at Port Albert and
the annual Jazz service at Holy
Trinity in Yarram. Although Sun-
day, October 16, was a bitter day
in terms of the wild windy weather,
a good crowd attended the Bless-
ing of the Fleet. Bishop John
McIntyre managed to not be blown
into the water with the boats.
A barbecue lunch followed with
the local Port Albert community
enjoying the chance to promote
their local area.
On Sunday, November 6, Holy
Trinity Yarram hosted the annual
Jazz into Spring service. Atten-
dees were treated to a variety of
jazz music provided by local play-
ers from Gippsland with locum
priest, Reverend Ken Peters, join-
ing them on guitar.
The church was full of people of
all ages enjoying the chance to sing
traditional as well as modern
hymns. A barbecue lunch was pro-
vided for a gold coin donation to-
ward the Anglicord East Africa
appeal.
Contributed by Glenda Amos
TOP: The congregation at the
Blessing of the Fleet service.
ABOVE right: Bishop John and
Elaine Wright on Port Albert
wharf.
RIGHT: Jazz Band members Ernie
Walker, Ian Richardson, Dave Gra-
ham, Alan Jones and Dave Rebec-
chi.
Photos: Glenda Amos
THE 2011 Gippsland Mixed Lay Retreat was again
held at Pallotti College, Millgrove, October 29 to 31,
attended by 18 people. This years leader was Father
Fred Morrey (centre front in photograph, right). His
theme was Soul Food and it was an extended medi-
tation on the Eucharist.
Fr Fred drew our attention to the first part of the Sec-
ond Order in the prayer book. We are reminded right
at the beginning it is Jesus we are there to worship.
The opening prayers set the scene. We confess our
sins; there is no hiding them, but if we truly repent
God forgives us and accepts us as we are. The Gloria
which we then say or sing expresses our thanksgiving
to God and the collect gives us the theme of the day.
Fr Fred suggested it is good to bring someone in need
of prayer in your heart to the Mass.
In the ministry of the word we are given a special
way of listening: by the Holy Spirit. It is in times of
worship that God reveals himself to us. It was at Mass
that St Francis heard God calling him to rebuild his
Church and while a priest in the temple, God revealed
to Zechariah that his wife would bear a son.
Fr Fred stressed our need to study the scriptures con-
stantly. The daily discipline of praying the offices is a
good way, setting aside regular times each day to do
this. If we are listening to him he will reveal his truth
to us; as he opened the scriptures to the disciples on
the road to Emaus.
Study scriptures daily and listen to God