Time to say "Goodbye " - Sue's Final Blog.

The position of Rural Chaplain Support has run from March 2012 to the end of June 2015 but finally the funds to provide for the position have reached an end and so the position will not continue and I must say "good bye" to the blog.

Sue (left ) with Lusi, from our congregation, in front
of lovely farewell gifts from Julie and Phill. *

The goals of the position, initially called Associate Rural Chaplain, were to provide administrative support for the Rural Chaplain, assist with promotion and dissemination of information about the work of the Chaplain, assist with submission of grants and reports and other projects or tasks as directed.Over the time these goals have been the main focus of my work but recently the specific project, Creative Solutions, has also taken a share of my time as you will have seen reflected in the blog.

Overwhelmingly the job has been fulfilling as I have seen God instigating and driving projects. It’s been great to be a part of that!

Initially computer work was a challenge for me and I had to learn new computer skills but Julie was a very patient and effective teacher. The blog writing, has been an education for me and very rewarding, as I learned new and creative ways of using the computer to record the work of the Chaplains in the west of NSW through the blog and in local papers.

It’s been a privilege to work with people as dedicated to the job as Julie and Phill. It has inspired me in what I do and to see how I can use my gifts too. It’s been encouraging to feel that by doing what I do, it gives Julie and Phill more time to get onto other projects. 

Farewell words from Julie present in church, with Phill
 skyping in from Narrabri to say "goodbye"

Using my writing and teaching abilities in a new way –from English teacher to writer, editor and latterly as an English as a Second Language teacher–has been rewarding.

The challenge of engaging the city churches in mission in rural areas is very exciting. Pymble church and now other churches like Gordon and the Sydney church schools too, have been inspiring in their willingness to use their gifts and resources for others.  

Although the position is really only finishing up due to lack of funding, I feel the time is right for me to explore other areas of work and so I am happy to move on the next new adventure God has in store for me.

It’s been great working in, encouraging and sharing the vibrancy of the rural church and community and I'm pretty sure that God isn't finished with me in that field yet.

Farewell,

Sue Chapman.

* See the emus?

Did someone say "Emus?"

One thing leads to another- Part 2 - Back Packer's Rights - Being Part of a Church concerned for Social Justice

After our experiences getting to know backpackers in town and running Conversation Groups as part of a wider Uniting Church concerned for social justice, and also hoping to be good hosts to visitors in our country, Hillston -Gunbar Church Council recently asked the Rural Chaplains to find out more about the conditions and rights of backpackers visiting Australia. A report was prepared by Sue for Church council to be tabled in July - August.

The results were enlightening. Sue found that "backpackers are entitled to the same minimum standards as any other employee, including basic rights and protections due to all workers in Australia, correct pay rates for their classification, superannuation, overtime and penalty rates. It is important they are employed correctly, as Fair Work Australia DO prosecute and people who do not follow the rules give the agricultural industry, and Australia, a bad name."

Often backpackers in Australia are taken advantage of by employers because they are young and inexperienced and in a strange country where they do not know their rights. Often they really need the money or the rural work to extend their stay so they accept less then ideal pay or conditions.

Often too, a caring contractor,employer and community can make the stay of a backpacker an experience they will always remember fondly.

If we have the attitude of treating back packers here as we would like our own children treated overseas - we can't go wrong.

Why wouldn't you want to treat these lovely young people well and give them the time of their life?

Sites to look for :-
For employers 
For information on legal working conditions in Australia - call 13 13 94 –Fair Work Info line or contact - www.fairwork.gov.au

For more information on the NES, please see the Fair Work Ombudsman Fact Sheet – Introduction to the NES.

 For employees
Have the correct visa for the work you want to do and the time you want to stay in Australia. Call 13 18 81 – or contact www.immi.gov.au – Dept. of Immigration and Border Protection

Know your rights at work in Australia - For more information - call 13 13 94 –Fair Work Info line or contact - www.fairwork.gov.au - Foreign workers – Know your workplace rights!

If you need language help- Call 13 14 50 - Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) Say the name of your language and you will get a person who speaks your language to help you.

Information collated from – Australian Govt. – Fairwork Ombudsman website, SMH article – “Fruit pickers should know work rights: ombudsman” and  Dairy Australia - www.thepeopleindairy.org.au.

 This last site is well worth a look; with tips for employers on how to best provide for workers in their industry. It shows impressive concern and consideration  for overseas employees. 

Well done to The People in Dairy!

One thing leads to another - Welcoming the Stranger - Part 1

One thing leads to another -This has been the story of our experience in getting to know people from different cultures who also live in Hillston and during the process of organising and running this exciting project.

Sue and Steve are taken to dinner by our Korean "sons"

When we started English lessons for back packers and non-native speakers in town we did not know we would end up providing two session of lesson as well as tutoring, helping with daily problems like negotiating with banks, the tax department and sorting out problems of buying on-line. 
We did not know it would be an ecumenical activity shared with members of the catholic congregation. 
We did not know that English lessons would lead to opportunities for people to join playgroup, participate in CWA activities and at Lachlan Lodge and find employment, as well as forge meaningful friendships for all involved.


At first we shyly met backpackers in church and they shared in our bible study.Then we went to the World Day of Prayer with the theme of welcoming the stranger to your land. This was followed by a UME workshop on multi - culturalism led by Katalina Tahaafe-Williams. Awakened by that experience, that year we became concerned about the rates of back packer's pay during harvest and the Hillston Uniting and Catholic Churches decided to hold a Back Packer  BBQ to make them feel welcome in town and valued for what they do here. This was a huge success with 110 young people from 12 countries attending.We had to keep going home to get more food!

Cathy (second from left) and the girls from Taiwan -First BP BBQ 2012

Our feeling shy at talking with new comers and visitors led to TAFE workshop provided by a teacher of non-native speakers of English in Griffith and held in Hillston for community members who wanted to improve their skills and speak more confidently and helpfully to non-native speakers. This led to us thinking about a Conversation Group and tutoring in town which led to applying for a grant from Unitingcare Ageing West to fund tutoring the tutors.
 In the process we started two (one for the night shift and one for the day) Conversation Groups for Korean back packers who were working at the cotton gin and some of whom we had met a church.

On the day this was taken Andrew sang for Hilda aged 102.

Andrew, one of that group, became quite a celebrity in church, using his skills as a musician by playing for us each week and singing with his beautifully trained voice. He has since returned to Korea after being with us for two cotton gin seasons but we are still in contact with him and he still thinks fondly of Hillston.

"Finally, I came my home on 21st March

 I miss Hillston life and would like to see you all.

I'm a lucky guy because I met you and went to Hillston

 I will pray for you and Hillston church. 
Andrew

Winny, Shannon and Huong make words with  "Bananagrams"
 with volunteers, Pat (second from left) and Carole (on right) 

A Local’s Conversation Group started in early March 2015. Currently 4 local resident-students are attending conversation group with 1 requiring one-to-one English lessons in town. 

Now participants, Winny, her husband Hong, and Huong, have been signed up to the AMES 510 hours of free English tuition program, run by the NSW government and available to permanent visa holders. 

The conversation group has been instrumental in making this happen as locals assist with enrolment procedures. As a group we have become aware of services available for new comers to Australia like AMES and the translation service also available in NSW.                         

Meeting each other through tutoring, Huong and Carole also meet up at church. Carole a long term Hillston resident, has invited Huong and another participant, Winny, to CWA events which they have enjoyed.  Winny now attends playgroup with her young son, Jason. Something they both benefit from. Missing the work she used to do in China, it is hoped Winny’s improved English will lead to employment in the future. And Huong has now invited a new friend –a grandmother from Turkey, here to help with her new grandchild. We look forward to getting to knowing Layla during her time here with her family.

Church, Bush and Blokes plus a good drop !

This last few weeks has been an awesome time, questions answered and ways forward being planned, even had falls of rain across most of the places I go, except Walgett which still struggles, but other places do OK.   Dry dusty roads turn to mud = smiles on faces "But it is still a long way to go" they will dryly tell you.

The rain fell out from Dubbo and beyond. As I drove back to Dubbo I could see the clouds rolling in dark and low. This was my second trip to Dubbo.
Last week I met with others looking at rural remote ministry - some good robust conversation and great fellowship. This lead into a RMU planning meeting for the up coming Field Days,10th to 14th August. A great program is out for this event for all involved in the life of the church. Lay and Ordained will be well fed spiritually and intellectually and with your choice of pre- booking or buying lunch you will do OK that way too.

Work on table groups

pulling it together, together

 I then headed home for a great night at a ball for Life Without Barriers. Some great moves going down to "ABBA."

dancing queens soon filled this spot

I'm sorry, I did not get permission for the guy's photos for the blog but there were lots of body suits and blonde wigs.
Church on Sunday, tip for young preachers -Check the roster, finding you're on a few days out and you have 2 meetings to be part off before then!! - but it all went well .
That all done it was Load the car and Back to Dubbo for a meeting and catching a flight to Sydney for a meeting then back  to motel in Dubbo for the night, then some running around and off to Nyngan shopping for the big day.

 Running events has become all in a days work for Uniting Care Workers, Catherine and Natasha.This one was a winner, 17 men yes, 17 MEN! Booked in for a Pamper Day and they all turned up. The day opened with a health talk from a local Doctor, who did a great job. All listened, then were pampered and health tests were done.

Utes filling the car park at Tennis Club 

When  is my go at ??

It tickles 

Health check or Badge of Honor 

This was great afternoon and evening. Most stayed and helped put the Tennis Club back to normal.
Thanks to the health and beauty workers. They too enjoyed the day.  All behaved well and gave us suggestions for the next day for Hermidale area. This week is a family night movie under the stars, but I came home for a couple of days rest.The trip home saw low flooding along the road and Marthaguy Creek was over flowing

Like many things there is a fine line between famine or feast. It applies to rain too but some, as I said earlier, have still not done well. Yet others along the Creek had flood damage to crops and pasture. But we welcome the rain as life giving to the land.

My work with the Western Farming Communities has still a way  to go but seeing the smiling faces, getting men to take a day off, fills you with hope that change is coming. On these cold days, it warms you to see a good sense of community involvement- growing people talking to each other.  It was also good to see people from all levels of the church come and sit for 2 days to seek a way forward for the Rural remote Ministry in NSW ACT Synod as the add and song goes "we all in this together" that's what happen .
Shalom
Phill Matthews Rural Chaplain

From Little Things Big things Grow - The Griffith Care Van

When the Caravan started in Griffith they had the idea of feeding a meal to homeless adults one night a week and they were a relatively small group. 

The Care Van at the start of its career.

Talking this week to Michelle Bordigan, who leads the team, I found that from that beginning they now also feed over 40 children from 15 to as young as 2 years old. One child will bring another along. Those children take home the leftovers and take them to school next day to be heated for lunch, this leads to an improvement in their behaviour and performance at school, which has been reported by their teachers.

Note - models used for this image, not children who visit the Care Van.

On the night the van goes out police also report less domestic call outs to troubled homes as the children, fed, tired from play and good company, return home, happy and satisfied. 

Once people heard of the work being done by the van they offered help –food, magazines, hygiene packs, blankets and sleeping bags. Any donations not used are offered to other organisations doing similar work like Barnabas House. Many people and groups are now involved in the work.

From little things, big things grow.

WNWN - An Ever Changing Thing

You know something is alive and well when the best parts, the things you really value, stay the same and keep going but also when it is able to adapt to changing circumstances and see new possibilities and areas to grow into. So it is with WNWN - Waste Not Want Not.

The Sydney launch of the partnership between WNWN and Foodbank. 

Starting in Hillston in 2011, WNWN has spread to Griffith, Leeton, across the Riverina and further afield. Originally set up to send food, which would only go to waste on the farm, to charities, who could use it well to feed people struggling to make ends meet, it quickly caught on as an idea. Foodbank took it on wholeheartedly, producers donated produce and transport and meat went onto the menu.

Some of the original picking team

Less produce is picked locally by small groups like the Men’s Shed or the Uniting Church, than was the case in 2011-12, not because these groups have lost interest, but because so much more is donated overall.

WNWN has become a bigger project than expected originally and one which, once set up, largely runs itself. The total produce donated to date is 427,399kgs and 94,020 kgs has been sent over March and April this year from this area.

Families struggle on low incomes 

A new venture for 2015 is to produce recipe and food fact sheets. Many people who use the donated food were never taught, cooking or basic nutrition skills. This naturally affects their diet, overall health and budget.






Jenny Sheridan from Hillston WNWN and Penny Davies,* Carrathool Council Community Development Officer, are developing the recipe sheets which show people how to cook and store the food they receive from Foodbank, the food sent from NSW farms. (* In the top picture -Jenny is second from left and Penny is on the extreme right.)

The recipes will be checked and authorised by a nutritionist and are designed to be easy to use, affordable and nutritious.

The sheets will be launched at Sydney Fruit and Vegetable Market in July with Susie Elelmen, the WNWN ambassador, assisting in the launch.

Positive outcomes are expected from the availability of cheaper food and the knowledge to use it well.

PS - The WNWN AGM for 2015 will be held in Hillston on 15th June at the Hillston Uniting Church in Grattan St - 12 noon for a light lunch, followed by the meeting at 12.30pm.

NSW RURAL CHAPLAINS GATHERING AT COONABARABRAN

Looking out across the Warrumbungle National Park  the scars still mixed in with the healing  

As winter started we met in Coonabarabran.  Why? Well, we had many of the Chaplains who had links with the devastating fires of 2012/13 attending but we also had  Sister Madeleine who has a big heart and house - a convent is a great place for a Gathering! 

The NSW Fire and Rescue Chaplain, Lyndsay Smith,  took us on a journey through Compassion Fatigue - The Cost of Caring. This was great as many of those present had gone from the fires to the drought as this is the role of many of the chaplains and other care based workers.  These come from Catholic Sisters and St Vincent de Paul plus a large group of Salvation Army Chaplains, both present and retired, or nearly retired, but still out holding those on the land in fellowship and prayer.

The Gathering of 2015 - Compassionate Carers one and all

It was not all hard work. In fact except for making coffee for 14 people at morning tea they did it well, with grace and care and still got a hot, flat, white on soy for me in the end. Hot soup, too, for lunch was the shot.
Our retired folk joined us then as they had driven from the Ridge via Narrabri, that morning -Vans in tow or one had car in tow (think about it) We were then in the hands of Donna, a local star seeker, who had lived in this area.

The fire was clearly still a topic that moved feeling and passion. BUT Stars, Baby Stars, are her main passion,finding the history and age. She had gained for us a tour of the Siding Springs Observatory. 
"Rap up warm!" she warned us and she was so right. Inside the telescope deck it is 7 degrees below the ambient temp outside -  BRRRRR!The 45 degree lean is from the power of the wind. 
This next point is not for Grey Nomads. 
We all drove passed the No Entry Sign - We had a "Donna Pass." The white building was our destination. For next couple of hours we had to follow OH&S so had to don hard hats. If the roof did fall the hat would only be a toy but I think it kept me warm in the wonderful crisp air above the back of the telescope.

Looking down to the mirror 

 I'll post pictures of the top end working and mapping galaxies on our face book page for the nerds like me.

Coffee followed and sharing what the last year has been like. The sad part is that a number of the Chaplains are coming up to retirement so we're losing some good resources.

The first  night we came together for a meal at a local motel - great people, plus we had guest speaker, Kate Shannon, who told us of her and her families experience on the day of the fire and how afterwards they used a program called "Storm Birds" which helped her children work on their feelings. It also helped Shannon understand what the children had going on.It was a very helpful tool.

 The time we had was good too, with Lyndsay Smith and our guests, the willingness of the sharing, open, helpful information and honest conversation, it was a helpful time. All I talked with got some thing from the time they attended.
           Thanks to all who came.
                                             A good feed for the heart soul and mind.

"Do you have to?" - Dinner at Coona

Breakfast in Coona -3 

Why are things like this important? 
Mainly to show all of us we not alone in the work we do. As we drive we meet up sometimes but often this gathering is the only time we get to see as the Salvos as all have different areas, projects and placements.I drive through Coona regularly but heading to and from somewhere I'm now going to see others. I will try to stop for a cuppa with Madeline.  I am working with some of the Chaplains with the drought work. 
To be compassionate you have to care for others. To sustain your care, you have to care for you.  It's not the last straw that breaks the camel's back but the wight of all we hold on to.
Bye for now,   
Shalom.
Phill Matthews 
Rural Chaplain