Super Camp Country and City come together

The back bone of the week  Nyngan and Gordon  Uniting Churches  Volunteers

This Super Camp is for the small schools in Bourke  district. We had Wanaaring, Engonia, Girilambone, Quambone, Marra Creek Hermidale  & Carinda Public schools and distant Education - 110 children. We also had students from Knox Grammer,  PLC and Ravenswood, plus staff who all played well together for the whole week.  I not going to do names as too many.  UME allowed the Next Gen worker to attend for 3 days.

Come and get it great food and fruit   

 The food was shared with Gordon doing breakfast and dinner shifts and Nyngan doing morning tea and lunch, afternoon tea was fruit - help yourself.
The food was from local shops or home- made. Drinks were water  which was in high demand as Monday to Wednesday were in high 30's, the cool change was welcome but bit of a shock.

craft 

What did they do?  

this group made a record of the Camp

               

They made a maze in the yards

Sporting events 

Singing and music lessons

There were art lessons plus, in free time  knitting. I helped with chess lessons and board games, plus they had games with the older students - running and footy -

the friendships grew. This camp gave the group an insight into each other's lives. This applied to all there. In conversations I had  with students,  staff &  volunteers, all were learning about each other's lives and dreams.  The camp helped with those who wish to go to  these Sydney schools after they finish Primary. There are some pathways for this to happen. The best thing is, it is the opening of the minds of those living on Isolated Stations and in isolated townships as to what is out there for them. I think for the Sydney students it also opens up for them life beyond their suburb. Service in the the small school towns teaches them of the fact that we are all the same - just some have been blessed to live in a culture and environment full of wonder and challenges. The towns folk never knew year 5-6 children are able to drive a truck and tractor.  The last morning was a show of what they had learnt and their great talents.

 The question in the picture above was asked of a few of us. It makes you think and focus on the things God has given, shown and done. The teachers and support staff of the small schools stayed with their children in sheds on sleep mats.  I am grateful for such caring  people, not only living in the outback but caring & sharing moments like this with their students. In a small school you see them grow from kindy to year 6. The relationships are strong both ways, you can see it in the way they interact with each other.
Well, as I find more photos, the last 3 are from Lou's keen eye. Thanks for allowing me to share. Don't forget to check our Facebook page.
shalom

Dear friends sorry for your change of post code Pymble was not doing the food it was our Gordon Uniting Church group I very sorry plus I left 2 rural schools out Distant Education and Hermidale  it shows I need a holiday thanks for my BBQ friend for passing on my over sight 

Doing the rounds

Well It's time to get out there !

The road calls, have to know  what is round the bend

As I covered in my last post, I had some time on the DRCN team at Coolah NSW after the fires. I also spent some time at meetings covering normal church issues at Presbytery level.  NENW, my presbytery,  cares for me on a number of levels.  Care is important - no one can do ministry without good levels of support and care. I go out meeting families, communities and individuals - the level of needs in their lives cover so many things - personal, work based, health/mental health, plus grief and loss. This can be a cruel death ifily members to loss of farm, or results of drought, floods and fire .  These issues roll on - often one to another - plus we have people having one-off crisis in areas with little access to services. You have to watch your own needs. 

I often have told you one of my care plans is taking myself off to take photos  for my collection and for use in this Blog or on our Face Book page. The one below was a coffee  break spot, it reminded me that often the road is blocked 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

As I went to drive out  the road had a few tons of gravel on it so I just turned around and went back to the road. I spent a full day visiting - started at 8.am, got back to motel at around 9.pm -  so many cups of tea and the odd  salad roll.  I visited with about 10 people over 2 half days. Sadly for some,  life on the land has not been kind - fences down, wind damage to farm buildings. 

But there was fun with all - in just meeting over tea and buns. I had another go at doing a video - got it right way up. I also took a look around the back blocks and crossed what is left of the Bogan  River -pictured below 

  

The river was flooding not so long ago - now the hot summer has  dried it to pools in places - life in a boom and bust land. Hope is still at a high as many big rigs plumed dust across the land,  as they work others spray weeds over night,  as it needs to be cool .  The Good News is we are still here, slowly building relationships and growing community, passing from piggy backing other groups/services, to a stand- alone part of the community - welcomed in to visit, but also grow relationship.  

As I prayed for this trip at the rest area bin,  I thought back over the last 4 years - the places I have been and the people I have been  involved with.  I now am used to being called "Rev Phill"  - not just in private places but as I walk down the street,  work in evacuation centres, non-church meetings with Government  and NGO personnel. I now know people across the NENW from Broken Hill in far west down to Wagga and up to Lightning  Ridge in the North. "When I was a Stranger, When I was Hungry -  for as much as you do for the least of these".  As we head towards Easter, I am going on holidays to allow me to  recharge and refresh, to come back and go forward into whatever the risen Lord has for the adventures of Rural Chaplain. 

No, it's not another Emu picture Beep! Beep! it is the Road Runner. Don't forget to go to Facebook for the travels of a Rural Chaplain.
Shalom 
Rev Phill

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2017

The deep stillness of the Holy Spirit ,The Rock and plains

Well I stepped out to Walgett to meet and plan some events.  It was good to be back on the road, catching up with people and preparing for services on Christmas & New Year's day.  My wife, Lyn, brought our youngest grandson, Flynn, up on the train. If now felt like Christmas. Re-telling the story that has been handed down, to keep us on track and telling the Good News anew to those hearing it, maybe for the first time. Flynn got to blow out the candles and help us sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.  I had a great time with Lyn and Flynn . We had a ball - not every poppy has a long hall to test out your remote control car in, plus a play ground.

Heat  has been a bit exciting - every day a bit hotter. 45 is the hottest I have faced on my travels in last 18 days.

45.c  10th.Jan Walgett NSW

 People ask us, as remote workers, how do we drive in all this heat? well driving is ok - it is stopping for comfort stops . Road-side toilets are made of corrugated iron with a breeze gap & they get very hot. A nice air con'd shop for lunch, a drink and a coffee is very welcome, so driving is OK as long as your air con works.  I did have a problem last summer with it blowing hot - this was not ok in any way. Had to wait for new part but well worth the wait.

 

Next trip was out to Broken Hill to attend a Service of Thanksgiving for the work of Rev Sharon Cutts. It was very uplifting and good to catch up with old friends from "The Hill". I was able to take a quick trip out to Silverton to re connect with the desert - the creeks had been reshaped by the big wet late last year, as seen by the tree photo on right. 

root system dug out by the water shows the power 

I  find walking around in these creeks  life-giving and makes me feel regenerated.  I still hope one day I will be in  the area in the wet to see them flow.  It only lasts a short time as they are nature's drains - moving water across this wide red land . Life for my ministry has been full on for the last few years with the drought and it's affect on people's well-being. We sadly lost one of our  group leaders (not sure what word to use) with Services she was a Client, in church, a Congregation member. For myself, looked at her as a friend on the journey.  RIP.   So rain doth not fix life but for many of our farming communities it does bring renewed hope - seeds have gone in for summer crops. Cotton is coming along,  bumper harvest in much of my area,  lower prices but still some money.  

As I head into a new year, my love for this work has not waned. God's call on my life is still strong and he keeps opening doors on new relationships with people in the rural remote areas of NSW. I appreciate the support from you who take the time to read the writings of Rev Phill and those who transpose it to proper writing  to make it easier for you. Some days they're busy so you get it raw - it gives you a look into my early days when I could not read. Thank you. We (and I mean you and others) and the patrol team, have helped many people in real ways. Relationships have been built across the places where we roam in cars and planes, and you are there with us. I tell out your names and in the name of the one God who sends us, thank you.

Why the Emu?  well I love them. Julie told me I would get over them but I still love to see them and take a shot and I saw heaps this trip.  
I pray each of you find your own deep stillness and peace in this time of unrest and change,  smile when you can,  love - even when it's hard and pray for your mission. Shalom 

Rev Phill 

see our Face book page for more Photos
the Creek is Stephens Creek Silverton  NSW

What has happened

The last few months have been a busy time so busy something had to slip and it was the Blog ,I choose to post on our Face book page Photos and a quick message it  was easier and and kept many informed. I hope live is coming back to a speed I can handle  as I have missed my time in Blog world.

What did happen well Lots some good and some very sad (all I ask is you pray for healing ) . Many think I have the best job in the world driving round this awesome state  western area and that is so true, but! life has some ups and downs, God allows me to be part of both the ups and the downs that is what a relationships is all about. Good news 

Rain rain and more rain 

Rivers flowed (The Castlereagh River)

and even rained on the harvest trucks

But the harvest has  been good to excellent in many areas across "the State best for many years"is the term being used. "But always a But" the price is low, but they are getting their first crop for many years .   I took a weekend off to head to the coast to visit my old Church BUT ! again as you can see it did not happen.  

The smell and lack of speed then smoke  told me O it is not well, so I found safe place to stop and did a quick  check water oil van belts  then rang NRMA and found myself in the cab of a big tilt tray  heading home thanks Walcah NRMA dept  great service and the young man who drew the short straw drove me home and we had a great yarn . (well I did)

I got car back a week  later new clutch .

           


The strip I use to show how dry it is at Cryon NSW has crop and the Slat Bush has

come back to Life as shown above it is looking great.  I have spent a lot of time  with those grieving also with families in trouble as this good crop has come to late for them.  It is hard to be down when others are doing well the rain has changed a lot of things and for some the sense we are all in this together has gone.  Don't get me wrong there is a sense of community  still but also for some feelings  of  isolation  in their plight. Christmas is coming for some this will be a time of celebration if they have had payment  for Crop otherwise  it like the last 3 years.  Rain is not money crop is not money till it is paid for and bills paid.  But it is hope grain for next crop  ground moisture to grow the next crop and the grass. Blessings have come for many other still need another year or so till life can become normal as I write this a call for  support for a number of farming families . I also worked in a Q fever vaccination  program for farmers in Walgett area we got workers from local meat works too.  It was a good place to engage with  farmers and their families as we waited for  the next stage BP test, Talk to Doctor blood test then back in 7 days to get results and then if clear have your vaccination  that part hurt  yes I joined the whole process as I was told I hang round with them and their animals (I did not sign up for that) . Lastly I took time to do some team building at House of Shalom Carcoar  leading us across bridges

Below is the how the Girilambone Shy looked as I pulled in to  town ready for school presentation night, last year the sky looked a little like this but nothing happen.

This year well we can't say the same the sky  exploded to see more go to  our Face Book page to say I just washed my car and fitted new windscreen, but the full power of nature was shown unleashed .
   


due to commitments of my editors I did added some my own edit.  Well I found the words I left out and the comers plus added some of the clean keys  marks  enjoy Blessings 

The Murrumbidgee Valley trip

The Murrumbidgee River in high Flow  

As we started so we finished with a river system in flood many areas of our trip had it highest rain fall for many years. The tour of the Murrumbidgee Valley open us to a view of the diversity  of this rich area Farming Horticulture Viticulture and Tourism. We drove pass dry land farms massive irrigation  channels Historic houses plus visited a Zoo  that was breeding may endangered spices  of wild animals and a fish hatchery and watched the milking of eggs from  endangered fish to reintroduce them to the river system.

        


We Traveled From Wagga to Tumut for church  back to Wagga for church and forum then headed out to  then down stream to Balranaled. staying at Narrandera for 2 nights  Coleambally UCA Lunch  1 nights touring round farms and a forum at bowling Club  ,Griffith 2 nights , Hay 2 nights visiting Lockhart  Darlington point Zoo,  Gunbar for church M/T onto Hillston and a tour of district farms +lunch we also had lunch at Coolaman UCA gave us lunch on way home do you see a trend drive eat drive eat it was light lunches (right).  For me a many others on the bus we all  felt the warmth  of the small churches was awesome not just the food but the welcome . Also the local businesses were happy for our use of their service from food shops  coffee shops  motels local papers too.  Visiting the different farmers and tourist (museum/old homes) they too gave us a good picture of life in their district over the years some face both church and local volunteers  this is common in most Small Country towns a sense of mission or community is there a difference as they are known as members of the church in the town seeing them in a dual roll is a good message, same as a group like us touring to hear the voices in the bush . Our role is to bring it back and tell their story to our City sisters and brothers the high and a lows for them.        

      
Hillston UCA congregation  and tour group .

out the front Gunbar church 

View from the front street 

Setting up Forum at Colly Bowling Club

I think for me the meeting of local farmers and community members in their own grown not have them come to the church  gave us more honest open feedback from them but also many where blown away that we had come to listen not to tell them ! Not them being told what was happening  I learnt a lot but also found that common threads  running across those we have talked to on the upper Murray River I look forward to doing the bottom of the system to hear the stories
I like to thank all the congregations who looked after us as we past through often late due to our busy program and Coffee stops as always this is too big for one post so will leave you with a view from a look out just out of Lockhart  Galore Hill this gave us a great view of the country across the Valley check our "Face book" page for more Pictures of this trip plus "Insights" is doing  a story in next month be a good read

I am hopefully off to Quombone for the Quombone Camp Oven Cook Off this weekend planed for June but rain stopped play. Pray for farmers hit by flood now after 3-4 years of drought  crop under water and stock dying  from being bogged and other complaints  Thank you for your prayers and support till next time.
Rev Phill
Rural Chaplain

The Darling River Runs

The Bourk Weir on the 7 September 2016

We being myself Lou and Rev Jo Smalbil had driven to Bourke for BBQ as most of the sites in Cobar had closed roads. Seeing the water flow after our last trip was a joy to behold . The river looks much the same at North Bourke  bridge where we had our lunch so I took them to the Weir,

Down stream from Bourke Weier

The top side of Bourke Weir

This has been, as you all know a good winter for rain, but we need in many areas some dry warm sunny days to allow crops to dry their feet. Other wise they may rot in the ground and same for stock as they too get foot rot . But the country is beautifully green and yellow, with the rivers and creeks running . As I travelled down from Narrabri  via Walgett (as I had 2 meetings there) I had to drive through numerous water on road sections, plus one detour of 20 kms, but all safe no dramers I did think I should have packed my self inflating life jacket. 

The BBQ at North Bourke

his kite kept us amused

Lou taking time to photograph the Darling  River in full flight

Well I readybmy self for the next tour meeting old friends and making new ones this river system  can change  so quikly from now on we hope to get some good follow up rain keeping crops growing rivers flowing. . But what we wont and what we get is not guaranteed but we will be hear travelling with those we have met on our mission. 

There are areas who  have flooding, that is not helpful pray for them.The  loss of stock, fencing and crops is a hardship that they do not need.

 I will post photos from the tour as and when when I can Shalom.

The Transformation New Beginnings

This is just down from my drought tree I shown I could not get that shot to wet to stop and park

I have been in the office for a few days, finding those things I had not done, read and so on. Sadly I even cleaned the office and got some file storage .  Why you ask, well it rained and rained, yippee! Roads were closed in all parts so it was safer to stay away plus those who could, started planting,  but as you see above, water is still covering lots  of areas - this water runs for about 2 ks down the roadside.

This was May 

  





The transformation from my drive in May, on way home from a holiday, to these shots now, is widespread, not just this one bit of road outside Cryon. I used this area to photograph as it was  one of the first roads I drove down on my first trip out three and a half years ago. The area has not had crops and has looked the same but now it has got growth, life in hope, of a new beginning.  great start but

The rain washes out or drowns the seed 

The green colour of life is been gone for 3 years or more in some areas  "LOOKS GOOD"

So my work is done, I wish!, what is my focus ? I have met with the Walgett DPI worker and a Rural Financial Councilor  and other service providers, I raised the need to look at holding those networks we have built over last 3 years,but we have lost so many of the service providers as funding ended on 30th June. This has left a gap, if we can  build on what they did , question will it work without the free lunch. I hopping the relationships  grown over this time may give us a way to build a network of locals communities growing there capacity on there own from what they have discovered  by engaging in different workshops. This would mean as time moves on any other event (flood drought fire ) in to the future they will have the network to face these disaster together using their connections with each other and those local service workers . I also look forward to how these relationships continue to grow conversations based on faith and Spirituality  as I share my faith in the every day .We also are finding those who in the start up will need some help as they buy the seed and stock, they will still need to  eat educate  care for their family. Standing by the relationships after the others services have been pulled out  God cares beyond the program time line.  Till next time thanks for your support and your prayers they were answered this trip.