National Rural Ministry Conference

National Rural Ministry Conference

This trip had a lot of stories and events woven into it.  The main game was the National Rural Ministry Conference in Harrietville, Victoria. Yes, interstate again ,but I also set up a meeting along the way with Cath from Mission Aust, Dubbo, picked up Lyn on way home from Sydney and the Caravan from Dubbo .  So Dubbo was a shopping trip for Adult Literacy books for our Weilmoringle project. We bought a heap of children’s story books for the reading corner at play group - all of them had Indigenous stories and great pictures.

Hay in Southern NSW 

A wonderful night with Holly and Darren. I was also in time for the gathering they hold and met some great folk and shared a meal.

A family set up in rest area

I had to stop for this church  in a paddock 

Next day off to Victoria, but coffee first, of course….but what’s this: no steering wheel and on the wrong side of the car? How strange it is being a passenger, even putting on the seat belt. We travelled along some of the roads we had been on for the MDB trip and then out to Kelly country.The conference was in a beautiful village called Harrietville just past Bright at the foot of Feathertop   Victoria’s second highest mountain.

The views just go on forever.

There were ministry agents Lorraine Stokes, from as far as West Aust, 3 from SA -David Buxton, Ashley Davis & Rob Morgan. From Vic/Tas - John Thompson, Colin Thomson, Paul Blacker, Mike Lewis and Wendie Wilkie, who did a great job of keeping us in order. From the Riverina - Myra Cowell, Darren Wright and Dorothy Creek, plus others who popped in and out.
The time was broken into 2 sessions with guest speakers, Rev Jenny Byrnes, Executive Director of the Centre for Theology and Ministry, who led us in a session on sustainable, resilient leadership, and John Emmet, Mission officer with the Property department, previously mission catalyst with Commission for Mission, who led us in a session on mission in the 21^st C – “being small and vulnerable - a theological reflection”  looking at the possibilities and understandings of rural life. Both these sessions gave a lot of challenging thinking into how we go forward and break habits of church to move into 21^st.C

Hard at it with John Emmet 

Dorothy and Myra working on presentation

 There was an afternoon sight-seeing around the district and the rest of the time was in sharing stories from our patch. Again a helpful time allowing us to hear good and bad news and how it was dealt with.  Yes, all Synods are looking at new ways of “being church” and working around resourcing lay-led churches. We also had a visit from a local historian telling about those who had pioneered this area. Seems having children was a past time as most had around 10-12. We also heard of an interesting project in town of boarding students from a NT Indigenous community in 2 cottages as they attended school in Bright. They also can work in the project’s coffee shop.

It was good to worship and share over the time. The “race that stops a nation” was run and won as we travelled - it was funny seeing large groups of people hang around pubs in the middle of the week but it was a Public holiday down there.

We had a great cook whose cooking and sense of humour, added to the camp as she moved without intrusion, but also slotted in at the right time. 

Above Bright at the lookout but we need to lookout for the grader from the passenger seat

I headed north to Sydney, out the back way to Gundagai then up to Sydney for Lyn’s 
Birthday and some grand kid time, then home. Due to loss of a friend, Lyn stayed  and I headed in to my next blog……..…..empty car, wash cloths, re- pack and then early start to head  “Out West” for  a few days of drought work around Nyngan.

Sorry if this is not up to standard but I am on my L plates 

Phill Matthews Rural Chaplain

0418627875 madpom52@gmail.com

Getting a Good Idea Off the Ground.

When you work in the biggest office in the state and your co-workers can be anything from 5 minutes to 9 hours away, organisation can be interesting at times.This is particularly the case for projects which involve several elements and various people coming together to make them work. One such is the Outback School Satellite Scripture Project.

The plan and development of the project went something like this:-

1 rural chaplain is based in Hillston NSW- Julie Greig.

4 years ago Julie visits Weilmoringle and Louth schools and realises there is no scripture being taught there and that despite the schools wanting to have scripture,there is no one to teach it.

Caitlin enjoying her teaching over the satellite.

1 year ago a teacher was found and by now 3 schools want scripture,Wanaaring has been added to the list. The teacher had moved into the Hillston area. If you want to amaze yourself check out on a map where these towns are in NSW and how far apart they are and yet they are still considered to be in the same area in outback terms.

1 accessible satellite system to teach the lessons. A school is found when the local Hillston principal agrees to have the lesson taught from there. Other teachers at Hillston agree to train the scripture teacher.

The 3 schools need to be co-ordinated to fit scripture into the school program at a time the suits the scripture teacher and the host school. This is achieved by visiting the schools with the new teacher. It was a wonderful trip that allowed relationships to start to be formed.

Caitlin, teaching in a real classroom while visiting the schools.

Finally all the elements are in place and the project starts and goes well. 2 lessons are taught and everyone is happy.

Then ...1 husband of the scripture teacher gets a move to the Blue Mountains. She is still willing to teach but needs to find an available satellite in the Mountains. The Mountains public schools are all willing to help but have no available satellite space. All the time is being used for their own students needs.

Next step - Pray and Look for a solution.

This is a very worthy project as many children in isolated areas have no access to information about Christianity as there is often no local church or only one very irregularly.

It will take a little while to get the program started again so it's going to be interesting.

Many projects of the Rural Chaplain are like this.

It's interesting to see how God works behind it all to bring it all about.



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Working together CAN make a difference

"It is better a terrible end rather than terror without end".

This quote has come from research into those contemplating suicide and highlights some of the great pain and suffering of those who kill themselves. It also reminds us that suicide prevention is an extremely difficult area to be working in.

It was a recognition of this and wanting to support those who are working to make a difference where they live that lead me to gather a group of people to organise a Forum last Saturday. The Forum brought together community groups who are working to reduce suicide in their communities, and a few people who are interested in starting groups. People came from Hay, Wagga, Gundagai, Beechworth, Coolamon, Temora and Sydney.

Part of the organising committee - L to R Alan Woodward, Sue Murray, Merilyn Limbrick, Julie Greig, Tina McManus, Tony Cassidy and John Harper

The day was one of great passion, very innovative ideas, lots of interaction, good networking and learning. Most of the day was given to groups to share the story of how their group came into being and what they have been doing in their communities.

We heard stories of organising bike rides, media events, music concerts, huge numbers of people undergoing training, innovative ways of getting information into the community and continual efforts to raise awareness. The enormous energy and enthusiasm in the room was very catching.

We also had three excellent guest speakers. Sue Murray, Executive Officer of Suicide Prevention Australia, spoke about the "Communities Matter Toolkit" (more about that later) and how it could be used to help community groups. Tony Cassidy, Wesley Lifeforce, brought to us news of the expansion of the Suicide Prevention Networks and Alan Woodward, Executive Director of the Lifeline Foundation, spoke of what works in communities and self-care.

Lots of people helped  make the day work and my thanks to the committee who worked with me and Red Cross and UnitingCare who helped sponsor the day.



Julie Greig

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Yes it did get done by Synod .....

.... and the Launch was great!

Click here to see full Tootlkit

For those of you who are regular readers of this blog you may remember a post earlier in the year about a joint project with UnitingCare Mental Health Project Team to produce a toolkit for congregations with a bit of information about mental illnesses and how congregations and individuals can help. Click here to see this story
After the first draft the Toolkit was focus tested on a number of congregations and their comments, alongside comments from selected others, were put together and whole project then handed to the design team. The result is visually stunning with many of Phill's photos, and full of great ideas and information.

The deadline was the Synod meeting so it could be launched with the 400 representatives from across NSW and ACT. And we made it.

Tina McManus, Operations Manager, and Lisa Kinsey-Smith, Project Manager, and myself had the privilege of being able to present the project during the Rural Ministry Unit session. We were able to talk about the how the project came about and what was in the kit. Afterwards copies of the Toolkit were handed out to all participants.

Tina, Julie and Lisa

And even nicer were the wonderful comments we received on the Toolkit after the launch. A few people shared their own experiences and how much they could have used it when they were having difficulties. Others talked about the need in their communities.

Mental illness is very prevalent and the effects can be devastating on individuals and families. Hopefully this toolkit  will encourage people to think about how they can help those around them. As Christians we are called to follow Christ's example and be alongside those who are hurting.

So where to from here?  Now we start Phase 2 that will look at backing up the Toolkit with other resources, short courses for congregations and more. Stay tuned to the blog or the facebook page for updates.

If you would like to download a copy of the toolkit then click here.

Julie


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Ruminations

For Synod this year a special edition of Ruminations, the journal of the Uniting Church in Australia Synod of NSW/ACT Rural Ministry Unit,was produced. It is attached to this blog ..but first, a page from the edition written by Lay preacher, Larraine Hoffman at this years Riverina Retreat.

Riverina Rural Lament


Listen to my words, O God and hear my sighs

I am worn out, O Lord, have pity on me,

Give me strength; I am completely exhausted.

How long will you wait to help us?

Our numbers continue to dwindle and our congregation is getting older,

Our loved ones have moved away, and our young ones are indifferent.

      

 Where do we go from here Lord?

       I am gripped by fear and trembling

       What is in our future?

How can we find a clear path to follow?

Who is there to lead?

Blessings from an unexpected quarter.

Click on the link below to read the whole edition.

Give praise to the Lord

For He hears our cry for help.

The Lord protects his people.

The Lord will save his people and bless them.

               Larraine Hoffmann

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vuldj0g4k0dts1e/Ruminations%20111.pdf?dl=0

Conversation Group Workshop

Standing - Lake,Yoko, Alanna,Carole and in front- Ania and Roma.

Our workshop was held at "The Shamrock" which serves Korean and Australian food and is staffed by Korean and Japanese backpackers.

You may well ask why the Irish name and the Asian staff and cuisine?

 I think it reflects the changes in Hillston over the years and, indeed the changes in all of Australian society as we accept our place as neighbours of Asia. Eventually the restaurant will become "The Seoul Kitchen." It is already on the menus.

Jenny, Alanna,Carole, Ania, Roma and Sue enjoy sharing ideas and lunch together.

Why were we there and why at "The Shamrock "?

We were there through the generosity of Uniting care Aging in providing a grant to training, resources and catering and also the generosity of Hillston locals prepared the give their time freely each week to help non-native speakers learn and improve their English.

Closely perusing the resources.

The day was very successful as Alanna Townsend, our language teacher from TAFE in Griffith, presented us with handouts,advice and research about good resources to be found online to use with our students.





 It was also a chance to say thank you by providing lunch for the volunteers to show how much we appreciate what they do.

There is more training and support to come as tutors and the conversation group, as local native speakers, continue to work with backpackers and also with locals on AMEP programs, which provide 500 hours of free tuition to those on visas enabling them to live in Australia, with a view to taking citizenship.

This English program has been a major focus of Sue's work for this part of the year and it is hoped by sharing it, others will be encouraged to take up this work elsewhere.

Murray Darling Basin Tour 4 - "A sense that we have come and listened and seen.."

Up early, coffee, porridge, get bus ready as most of us were heading out to Mungo National Park.
Our guide, Graham Clark, jumps on the bus. Stewart, his friend, follows the tar and then turns onto a smooth open highway that someone covered in much sand dirt rocks and grooves. Just like the roads at home - only in a bus! Hmm…..

Look to the sand.

 As we drive out we get a commentary on the dirt. I slowed down to hear and so Graham could point out things of importance – like dry lakes and ants nests. As we entered open country we stopped for a break. Morning tea was worth waiting for.

Stewart and Graham packed up. They were very organised, telling stories of work as they worked –about his mate’s full time job as photographer for magazines.  There were lots of questions about how and what. I rescued him so he could do his own thing, plus more... and so people would stay together. What was said was met in mixed ways but for me this was a great time to walk on the grounds early man had lived on, tended and died on.

Fossilised trees

Trees frozen in time, shells and bits of carbon. The clouds gave me great photos and on top of the hill we had 360 degree view. 
Awesome! 
 To then hear the pictures of Graham’s culture drawn in the sand was very interesting. We had lunch back at the information centre - again made up of kangaroo plus bush tucker and ham. 
All good.

But I will let the photos talk ....

Keeping the story line.

Mungo National Park

Then …..home to the boats. A quick clean up, then our last Forum. Again great church food and hospitality! By now our group had split and mixed with the locals. The local ministry team spoke and so did Myung Hwa of what had moved  and touched her on trip. This was a good night as we again heard voices of different people with different views. Back to the boat for a big day tomorrow.

Coming back - on the river it style.

Morning - Up at 6 am, ready to be off the boat by 7am. 

Everyone else gets to travel across to the Dockside Marina.  I grab a healthy breakfast - soy coffee and bacon &egg roll and hash brown (no, really –eggs are healthy!) then drive round to the dock, load on trailer, placed the bus in a spot where I could not get parked in, then off. 

We pulled up at Lake Bora for a roadside service. Myra preached. I did communion. Pity the service I loaded and prepared was on a dead tablet so I had to follow God’s will in front of the Moderator Elect! ( I may be sent back to Bron for retraining!)

 We then all said our good byes as Geoff, our friend from Vic, had chosen to catch a train from Kerang. At our lunch spot on Father’s Day lots of messages were coming in to those on tour. I thank the group for the kindness shown and coffee given.

Mungo Shearing Shed

The long ride back was not as easy as the going but yet a sense that we have come and listened, seen innovation, new technologies, communities and Individuals, efforts to bring about change along with cultural customs aimed at bringing new visions. The ancient tribal boundary trees are on the other side of rivers, as no one tribe ever owned the water in the river. 

Yet we fight over ownership of the river’s water.





Shalom
Phill Matthews


PS Let's look at that amazing sand picture again!

  

(I just love this photo!
Hands up-
Who else likes it too?
-Sue)