Visit to Enngonia

 Julie:

A large part of my job is building networks between people to achieve better outcomes for small communities. Recently it has become obvious that there needed to be better communication between service providers and service providers and the community in Enngonia so last week I convened a meeting of ggovernment, non-government agencies and community groups who had projects planned.
It was a great meeting because many of the people in the room had not heard about others proposed projects and there were many synergies. Not only was it terrific to hear how much is planned for Enngonia but many of those in the room found different  ways to enhance their projects by working with others.

It was also wonderful to have representative from the Pymble Uniting Church who were able to talk about their partnership with school. On the Saturday others from the church arrived bringing computers for school families (see the next post).

The next morning we were able to stay for the mobile preschool and NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee) celebrations which were good fun.

dc training

Julie:

The Uniting Church and Rev Stephen Robinson has been working very hard to training as many Disaster Recovery Chaplains in NSW as possible. Recognising the need for rural Chaplains two of the trainings have been held in Griffith and Dubbo.

Not only has it been a good time of learning, but it has also been great to bring together people from a wide variety of denominations including Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian, Baptist, Uniting and Churches of Australia (AOG).

I was very privileged to be able to participate in both the trainings, renewing acquaintances with some and making some new friends. We have some very dedicated ministry agents in all denominations working in the bush.

A wonderful ministry

Julie:

Let me introduce you to Joe. Joe is a retired farmer and builder who lives in Hillston and has a wonderful minstry using his carpentry skills. Joe makes "Holding Crosses" for me and others. These are beautifully worked crosses that are made to fit into your hand. I particularly use them when I am with people who have been through a trauma and often people find that having something to hold is helpful when you can't find the words.

Joe is quite passionate about his crosses and has been giving them out to a huge number of people in Hillston with some remarkable results. People seem to appreciate the thoughtfulness.

Joe was also insistent that I take some with me to Bali and they proved very valuable, especially with the young Australian prisoners that I meet at the jail. They were very readily accepted.

Thanks Joe for this great ministry.

Disaster Recovery Uniting Church Style

It is without doubt that none of us wish for disasters be they natural or not in our lives. We all know that disasters can and do strike at any time and often unexpectedly.

For these reasons the Uniting Church Synod of NSW and the ACT have put in place strategies to aid in  effective and rapid recovery from disasters when they strike. It is impossible to to predict where and when disasters might happen and yet being prepared is one of the key strategies to creating resilient communities.

Briefly the approach we have taken is to oversee the creation of a network of interfaith Chaplains who minister in Disaster Recovery Centers, provide peer support for ministers who are working directly in a disaster zone and putting in place a system of disaster plans within our Presbyteries that cover the whole of NSW.

This week the Presbytery representatives and the peer support team gathered in Sydney to be trained and updated on our strategic response.

It was everybody's hope that we will never be called into action.

Kel Hodge

Ian Tucker's Induction

The 7th of June saw Julie and myself in Cobar for Ian Tucker's induction into the Uniting Church Congregations of Cobar and Nyngan as well as a Patrol ministry around the the Cobar region.

This was an historic event for the Uniting Church as New South Wales welcomed the presence of Frontier Services within the state borders for the first time.

Frontier Services is an arm of the national Uniting Church that has provided ministry in a variety of forms to the people of remote Australia. Frontier Services has funded Ian Tucker's ministry on a half time basis with the Macquarie-Darling Presbytery.

The brief Ian has been given is to service the congregations in Nyngan and Cobar as well as being a Patrol Padre to the people living on remote stations in the area.

Ian brings many gifts with a life time of experience to this ministry. A full church welcomed Ian to the area and the local representatives sated that they were looking forward to supporting Ian in his new ministry.

Kel Hodge

Illabo Health Day

I was pleased to be asked to facilitate a health day at Illabo recently. I certainly do not profess to have health care credentials. My field of expertise is practical theology. The day was focusing on the ability of one's mind, body and spirit to adapt to the many and often stressful aspects of change in our lives.

It seems that the tools available to assist with caring for ourselves and one another intersect the boundaries of health care and theology. That is to say in a generalist sense both disciplines at their core point towards healthy and wholesome living.

The day was marked with avid participation, laughter and a focus on what is important to us all, that is leading healthy, productive and happy lives.

The weather was cold at Illabo that day although I must say the hospitality was warm and friendly.

Kel Hodge

Burnt

Over the last few months an initiative by Rural and Remote Mental Health and the Sydney Theatre Company has been touring the west in the form of a play called "Burnt".

Burnt highlights the issues of what the stress of drought may cause in the lives of rural people.

The play did not pull any punches as mental health, suicide, substance abuse and relationship issues were exposed in the play. This may seem a bit dark however I felt the play was tempered with good humor as the caricatures of rural people carried the plot well.

The quality of the performances by the the three actors, who each played multiple roles, was excellent. The play went for approximately ninety minutes and it seemed half that time.

I was fortunate to view the play at the Prince of Wales Opera House in Gulgong. This venue really lent itself to the performance as we were very close to the action and the acoustics were great.

Well done to everybody!

Kel Hodge