Sometimes, this work is easy. The give and take may not cost us too much. The issue may not be that important or we can find a sustainable position. Other times, finding a common mind is hard work. The issues at stake are too important. They must be wrestled with.
The Christian worldview is that a common mind can be found. Christians understand that God’s desire is that we are united. Our unity is shaped by love. Love is the essence of God. Love is what God is all about. Human beings are invited to love God, themselves, others, and creation.
The Christian ideal is that no answer should prevail if it is unloving. Yet, we know that they do. There are often losers as well as winners. Power is misapplied and abused everywhere. There are people who are conditioned by their circumstances. They are taught not to speak about their needs, or punished if they do.
History shows that the church, as an institution, has wielded power. It has often sought out and sided with the powerful. For much of recent history, this has meant that a white, European, male view has dominated. But this is being challenged.
There were at least four powerful movements in the 1950s and 1960s which are still finding their voice today. These were women’s equality, equity for people of colour, decolonisation, and justice for gay and lesbian people. These were social movements and churchbased movements. Lay and ordained Christians were very active in this life-changing work. The same era witnessed the fresh wind of the Spirit in the Catholic Church through Vatican II.
A loving world sees Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people shaping the affairs of this land that God entrusted to them. A loving world sees every person as able to become all that God has created them to be regardless of gender or sexuality. A loving world welcomes decolonisation at every level where people misuse power. When we live in a loving way, everyone is safe and can flourish.
As human beings, we are always engaged in a complex balancing act. Our worldviews are never exactly the same as someone else’s. We find ways of accommodating other people’s preferences. They, in turn, adapt to ours.
In my view, there are sound theological and spiritual foundations for pursuing justice and equity for all people. I strongly support the Voice of First Nations People to the Commonwealth Parliament. I am a committed ally of LGBTIQA+ people. As a nation, we are seeking a common mind on the Voice. In the Anglican Communion, we are seeking a common mind as we respond to different understandings of human sexuality.
As a Christian, I know that all my positions are provisional. As water drips on a stone and it changes, so will I continue to develop and adapt my insights. I discuss, read, reflect, meditate, and pray. I seek the mind of God. None of us is perfect. We are all forgiven. Our best self can take time to emerge.
I want to commend two practices to you.
In your meditation and prayer – wait upon the Lord Deliberately spend time in silence, calming in your inner turmoil, and wait for the nudging insights of the Holy Spirit. They will come. God will always lead us to love.
In your conversations with others – be your best self Our best self is one who looks on others with loving and compassionate eyes. We seek to see people as God sees them. We aim to let our shades of prejudice and hurt fall away.
My prayer is that in healthy and holy ways we will find a common mind. That we will allow God to work through us and make God’s world a better place.
Let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
1 John 4:7
Where there is knowledge there are our Elders. Our Elders paved the pathways for us, taught us our knowledge, our history, they passed down their art, stories and wisdom. Our Elders are the foundation of our communities and role models for our children. With this poster I wanted to showcase how important our Elders are in passing down traditions and culture to our children and future.
We all have Elders in our lives. An important older figure who has made an impact on who you are as a person. That could be a grandparent or an older person who has left an indelible mark on who you are at your core.
During NAIDOC Week, take a moment to reflect on a memory or saying that you remember clearly. Write down that memory or piece of advice and think about how that made a difference in your life.
“
In our communities, our Elders are held in high regard. An Elder would be someone who has been through initiation and holds the knowledge of the people. However, with many historical events and changes, full initiation only occurs in some places. An Elder nowadays is usually someone aged over 50 who has grey hair! A sign of respect is to call them Aunty or Uncle. You will find that Aboriginal kids will call any older person Aunty or Uncle, as a sign of respect.
Many of our people belong to Elders groups such as Nikinpa Elders, which I am a part of. As Elders we visit schools and organisations to talk to the young people and share knowledge of our own culture. We hope to instil in the younger ones, a pride in being Aboriginal. We are often invited to events that are displays of young people sharing the dance, music, and art they are doing, so they can show us what they have learnt. Our young people honour this as a privilege.
Many of us hold the knowledge of our history and family links. This history can be generations, and we share this as a way of affirming our identities. It is important that we all know who we are and that we are part of a huge family.
Elders are very important in our community. We are treated with the utmost respect. Many of our celebrations have special areas, known as “Elders tents”, for us to sit in. We are invited to community breakfasts with young people in schools and preschools. It is a presence as Elders that we share.
Most of us lived through the Referendum in 1967 that counted us as citizens in this country. Before that we were under the Flora and Fauna Act. I have lived through Land Rights Acts, a history of removals of children, Government interventions and many more of the constraints that we have endured, even though we are the First Nations of this country.
We are not recognised in the Australian Constitution as the First Peoples. Hopefully, a Yes vote for the Voice would help us.
I have to say that the debate for the Voice has certainly polarised the community. I don’t think that that is a bad thing. At least people are thinking about our history and future and its effects. The downside is that racism is certainly alive and well and much more overt.
It is important as Elders that we teach our children that they are precious, they are worthy, and they should be proud of who they are. They should stand up against racism. Many of our older generations were too ashamed to stand up and be seen as Aboriginal. We don’t want that to continue.
For Our Elders is all about being proud of who we are, respecting the fight for our rights and deciding in ourselves that we have more than 60,000 years of history that is everyone’s history if only we, as Australians, embrace it.
Regards, Di
The theme this year for NAIDOC Week is “For Our Elders.” It is a reminder that our Elders carry our story. They carry our family history. They carry our wisdom, and they will be respected.
“Nanna used to say: ‘If anybody asks, say you’re Indian rather than Aboriginal,” Reverend Helen says.
“In those days, to say you were Aboriginal as a child meant you could be taken away.
“When I was at school, I was called certain things and didn’t know what they meant.
“In unity, we have strength,” she says.
“If we leap out and say: ‘Look, I don’t want to be associated with you because you’re black’, or ‘I don’t like you because you’re a Muslim’, or ‘I don’t like you because you’ve got a mullet hairdo’ – we’re all individuals, but we need to have a focus.
“That focus should be on a united front within our community, within our country, and within each other. To me, that’s the only way forward.”
An ordained Priest within the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle, Reverend Helen is currently based in the Harrington and District Parish, on the Mid North Coast.
Her journey to priesthood has been one of self-discovery.
Raised in Sydney’s southern suburbs, Reverend Helen excelled at school and studied teaching at university.
Throughout her younger years, she was often asked questions about her heritage.
“Even when I was at university, it seemed as if I was being identified. There was a fellow a year or two older than me, and we used to talk on the train. He said: ‘You should ask your mother’, but she denied it.
“So, I never thought about it at all and just accepted my skin was dark.”
Reverend Helen finally confirmed her Aboriginal heritage at the age of 50.
As she’s grown older, divisive comments from within parishes and the wider community have left a more noticeable mark.
“It seems to make more difference to me these days. I do get a bit sensitive if people are cruel. It hurts,” she says.
“I just want us to be one. I know it’s idealistic.
“While we were waiting for a [church] service to start recently, I put on the Seekers song I Am Australian.
A self-confessed idealist, Reverend Helen Quinn knows just how important it is to put our differences aside and work together.
“When Judith Durham sang the line: ‘I’m the black soil of the plains’, I burst into tears because that’s where my mother came from. Grandpa farmed on Breeza, which is part of the Liverpool Plains, and it’s the black soil plains.
“Suddenly, I thought: ‘Here’s someone singing about our wonderful country, and we are one.’
“I don’t see myself as any different to you or the bloke down the road. We are one, we’re people, we’re God’s children, we’re human beings.
“We all have a story to tell and should be treated with respect.”
Reverend Helen believes significant events like NAIDOC Week, which will be celebrated from 2-9 July, can help pave the way forward.
This year’s theme is For Our Elders. It recognises our Elders as cultural knowledge holders, trailblazers, nurturers, advocates, teachers, survivors, leaders, hard workers, and loved ones.
“I love NAIDOC Week,” Reverend Helen says.
“It’s a weeklong celebration, it’s party time. Celebrating who you are, what you are, what you believe, and what your background is – that’s important.
“It’s really good for people who have just come to understand. I think it’s a bit like Christians suddenly coming to faith – there’s this explosion of joy.”
After joining the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle seven years ago, Reverend Helen helped form an Elders art group at Tuncurry.
Apart from painting, people also dropped in for coffee, tea, or cake, while others came to pray, sing, and tell stories.
The COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to the group’s activities, but members have slowly started to regather at a new location in Forster every Thursday.
“We’ve just about finished a group painting using the theme ‘For Our Elders’ – we formed our own meaning of that,” Reverend Helen says.
“It’s about the contribution Elders make to the people coming after them, so it’s an exciting piece of work because it tells a story.”
Reverend Helen’s own story paints quite a picture.
Newcastle Anglican is a leading faithbased organisation serving the people of the Hunter and Central Coast. We operate on the traditional lands of the Awabakal, Biripi, Darkinyung, Geawegal, Kamilaroi, Worimi, Garrigal, and Wonnarua peoples.
As a Christian organisation, storytelling is an important part of our eldership. God has been inspiring authors and narrators for millennia.
So, too, have our First Nations peoples.
Our Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander peoples share the wisdom of a 60,000-year-old story. Australia’s history cannot be reduced to 235 years.
More than 750,000 Aboriginal people inhabited Australia thousands of years before colonisation. The indigenous peoples lived harmoniously. They developed languages, rituals, customs, and above all, a deep connection with land.
It is inescapable that we observe we are on land that has been colonised.
The Crown established The Diocese of Newcastle by Letters of Patent in 1847. Our history is intrinsically linked with colonisation. Our leaders, often wealthy men, have made mistakes. The Aboriginal people of our region were dispossessed of their land and oppressed. We lament the reality of bloodshed and massacres.
We know this has caused unresolved and ongoing tension for us as a Diocese and as a community. We can’t right the wrongs of the past, but we can help ensure history doesn’t repeat itself. We choose to change the patterns of privilege.
The Uluru Statement of the Heart invites the nation to “create a better future” with some key reforms:
• Voice: enshrining a First Nations Voice in the Australian Constitution.
• Makarrata: the coming together after a struggle to supervise a process of agreement-making between governments and First Nations and truth-telling about our history.
We wholeheartedly accept the invitation.
Newcastle Anglican is guided by six core values: compassion, integrity, justice, courage, wisdom, and faith.
These values guide us as we work toward meaningful reconciliation. We commit to the joyful and demanding journey of Makarrata: conflict resolution, peace-making, justice, and treaty.
Newcastle Anglican offers unequivocal support to a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
Our mission is for our people to flourish, because of what we do, inspired by the way of Jesus. We believe the Voice will help First Nations people to flourish.
We ask our community to join us in support of the Voice. Vote ‘yes’ in the 2023 Referendum, so all Australians have the opportunity to flourish.
A better future starts with a true expression of Australia’s history.
More Resources:
1 https://ulurustatement.org/education/design-principles/ 2 https://www.reconciliation.org.au/reconciliation/support-a-voice-to-parliament/ 3 https://voice.gov.au/
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican Council
Australia is moving steadily closer to the referendum on the Voice to Parliament enshrined in the Constitution. Sometime before December we will be asked to vote on whether we recognize the First Peoples of this land in the Constitution and provide them a Voice to parliament on legislation that impacts them.
It is simple and uncomplicated and appeals to the fairness of Australians to recognise First Peoples in the founding document of our nation. This is a significant step that builds on the success of the 1967 Referendum and the democratic process we now know as the Statement from the Heart.
It is simple and uncomplicated as it is about justice – acknowledging that there were people who lived in harmony with this land before the First Fleet arrived and that they have suffered significantly and continue to do so despite the many interventions in the past 250-plus years. It is not about taking anything away from the powers of governments or the constitution itself. It adds to both in a way that allows Australia and Australians to live out fully their vision of themselves as the nation of the fair-go.
It is simple and uncomplicated in that it has no power to veto Government legislation. Period.
It provides advice, input and a Voice for the First Peoples on matters that affect them directly. It is not another layer of bureaucracy or a third chamber. It is there to be the conscience of parliament and will act in the manner the legislation under which it will be formed allows it to.
It is simple and uncomplicated. Do you and this Nation believe it is time to address the original sin of invasion, the subsequent exclusion of the First People from the Constitution and allow them a Voice enshrined in that Constitution on matters impacting them?
As the Statement from the Heart states on behalf of all First People, “We invite you to walk with us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future.” For Christians this invitation by a people who have been decimated by colonisation to those who have benefited from it, rivals the absurdly compassionate generosity of God who sent his son so that whoever believes in him will be saved. (John 3:16)
The sheer brutality of the Cross is redeemed in the glory of the third day. It’s time for this Nation to enter the Third day that followed the crucifixion and the darkness of the tomb.
We invite you to join us in this journey.
The Reverend Canon Associate Professor Glenn Loughrey NATSIAC Chairperson The Reverend Canon Auntie Di Langham NATSIAC Secretary
The Samaritans Winter Appeal was officially launched on June, 1 by Samaritans President, Bishop Peter, Diocesan Chief Executive John Barriga, and Samaritans Community Services Manager Lauren Fisher.
Amazingly, they are still driven to succeed but they need support and stability to continue their education.
Bree is one of these incredible young people.
Bree suffered a traumatic family breakdown. She didn’t feel safe and felt that she wasn’t welcome at her own home. With all her possessions in a bag, she started staying with friends at the age of 16.
Her friend’s parents helped her find a place to stay at Samaritans refuges, but Bree always had a goal to secure a safe home at Samaritans Student Accommodation. She described it as like “a mirage in the desert.”
Bree‘s dream became reality.
Now safely in the accommodation program, Bree got her HSC a year early and was accepted into the University of Newcastle to study Coastal and Marine Science, which she says she loves with all her heart.
Bree, now 18, is studying full time and working part-time. The Samaritans Student Accommodation has given her the security and stability she craved.
Bree believes she wouldn’t have been able to accomplish what she has without the service.
In fact, she says she may not be alive today if it wasn’t for the Samaritans.
Our support workers at Samaritans often speak of countless experiences where children as young as 12 have come to us for help. This often occurs after leaving unsafe homes.
Natalia has an unstable home life. She was in and out of refuges and foster care as a child, before she started living with friends as a teenager.
At 15 years of age, Natalia started staying at the Samaritans youth refuge at Maitland. She wanted a better and healthier life for herself and was driven to securing a more permanent place at Wickham.
She did that when she was in Year 10. Natalia was exceptionally self-motivated, catching a bus and a train to St Paul’s at Booragul each weekday to complete her high school education.
Natalia was a resident at Wickham for three years while she finished high school and started her Physiotherapy degree at the University of Newcastle.
She now lives in a private rental with her miniature dachshund Ziara. She is juggling her degree with parttime work.
Natalia is so grateful for the support of Samaritans she decided to run the Hunter Valley Marathon to raise money for the Student Accommodation Service that helped turn her life around.
Natalia hopes she is an example of what you can do with the right support and the drive to want better for yourself and your future family.
Natalia and Bree are just two of the many success stories arising from the Samaritans Student Accommodation Service. It’s the only service of its kind in the Newcastle region and does not receive any government funding. This support is only able to continue because of kind donations.
Are you able to assist us this winter with a donation? With this gift, we can continue to support young people who are facing homelessness. We will provide them with safe housing and a pathway to continue their studies.
Imagine going to school today, not knowing where you are going to sleep tonight. That’s the brutal reality for many young people.
But you can help. Please donate to the Samaritans Winter Appeal and help us change lives!
A recent report found our youth are shouldering a heavy burden, effectively priced out of the rental market.
Newcastle Anglican took part in the 2023 Anglicare Australia Rental Affordability Snapshot to shed light on what is now a desperate situation.
Samaritans is seeing the effects firsthand through its work to support young people and help prevent youth homelessness.
Samaritans Community Services Manager Lauren Fisher says the rental crisis, highlighted by the Rental Affordability Snapshot, is particularly dire for young people.
“Samaritans Youth Homelessness Services in Newcastle and the Lower Hunter are at capacity and the beds in our Crisis Accommodation Services always seem to be full.
“It is very hard to support a young person to continue their education, find stable employment and address their mental health without a roof over their head.
“Youth Allowance is the lowest payment that Centrelink provides as a safety net, meaning young people are worse off with the current housing affordability crisis and the rising cost of living.
“We are seeing more young people couch surf and stay in unsafe accommodation just to have a place to sleep.
“Governments need to take action to help provide more safe and affordable housing,” Ms Fisher said.
Click to learn more about Samaritans Youth Services
Interest rates are rising, the cost of living is exploding. There is no doubt: Australian households are in the midst of difficult economic times.
A survey of 2316 rental listings across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Hunter Valley, Central Coast, and Mid North Coast found:
0 rentals were affordable for a single parent with one child on JobSeeker or Parenting Payment Single.
0 rentals were affordable for a couple with two children on JobSeeker.
0 rentals were affordable for a single parent with two children on the Parenting Payment Single.
0 rentals were affordable for a single over 18 on Youth Allowance.
0 share house rentals were affordable for a single on Youth Allowance in a share house.
Nick Edwards was training for the priesthood in the Church of England when God called him and his family to go the extra mile – or, more accurately, 10,000 miles – to serve in the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle.
Raised in Gippsland, he studied theology at Trinity College, Melbourne, before travelling to sing with cathedral choirs in England.
Nick later trained and worked as a counsellor, cognitive behaviour therapist, and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) practitioner, deepening his understanding of us all being made in the image of God and what it can cost to love one’s neighbour.
After spending decades in England, Nick says Anglican Bishop of Newcastle Dr Peter Stuart and the COVID-19 pandemic played key roles in his journey back to Australia.
“I’ve lived in England for 30 years, embracing the culture and people,” he says. “As St Augustine puts it: ‘Our hearts are restless ‘til they find rest in God’, so at times I felt unsettled, waiting, and hoping, for a clear direction.
“My English Diocese encouraged me to look beyond its boundaries for my first parish and, at the same time, the pandemic kept us from seeing our Australian families.
“This encouraged us to tentatively knock on Bishop Peter’s door, wondering if God had Newcastle in mind for us.
“We were right to seek that path.”
Nick was ordained Deacon by Bishop Humphrey Southern, at the request of Bishop Peter, in May.
He will soon travel to Australia with his wife Eleanor and their six-year-old daughter Henrietta (Etta) before being ordained Priest on 26 August in St Peter’s East Maitland. Nick then begins his new adventure as Priest in Charge of St James Church Morpeth the following day.
He sees his future ministry revolving around prayer and parties, helping to keep Christ and St James Church at the centre of the local community.
“In Morpeth, I hope to know and celebrate each member of the parish as a gift from God,” he says.
“I look forward to walking with them through the changes and chances of this fleeting world, being attentive to the presence and calling of God among us.
“I hope we will shine a light on the wider community, throwing open the doors of the church to welcome everyone and declaring the riches that faith in our God provides through acts of hospitality, fellowship, and beautiful liturgies.”
Volunteer week
Newcastle Anglican has more than 1,300 volunteers who give their time and energy to help our community flourish.
These volunteers drive change and help us create an accessible and inclusive environment for everyone.
To all our volunteers, thank you for your hard work and dedication. Your kindness and generosity does not go unnoticed.
We have teams packing parcels in our Emergency Relief.
We have members who visit our aged care facilities, creating activities and morning tea for residents.
We have parents and carers on canteen duty in our schools.
We have voices that make up our parish choirs.
We appreciate everything you do. You inspire us to be better, and we are grateful for the difference you make. For those of you looking to develop new skills, make new connections and make a difference, we have volunteer opportunities for you.
We can always use an extra helping hand.
Nicole Klasen Executive Director People and CultureOur volunteers inspire us with their kindness, generosity, and selflessness. They are a true reflection of the vision, values, and mission of Newcastle Anglican.
During National Volunteer Week, we highlighted seven of our volunteers who were nominated by their organisations.
These volunteer superstars were Richard Fellows, Stephen Mendham, Helen Shearer, Mary Irwin, Janelle Bidner, Naomi Smith, and Ann Monck.
St Peter’s Parish nominated Mr Richard Fellows. Richard has worshipped at St Peter’s since 1983 and has supported the Parish in many varied roles since that time.
He was part of our pastoral care team since 1984 and served on our Parish Council for over 20 years. He has been a Server since 2000 and has been a part of our gardening team since 2013.
Richard is the most selfless and caring person, always around the parish grounds working tirelessly in the garden and always available to support and care for parishioners.
We thank and recognise Richard for his dedication to St Peter’s and acknowledge all he does in the name of the Parish.
CA Brown Lodge put forward a very special volunteer, Stephen Mendham, who has volunteered with us for more than 14 years.
Stephen comes in twice a week, takes a consumer out on weekly trips to the cemetery so he can visit his wife, and conducts meaningful activities (he gives up his own time at home to make sure he has the right resources and information to carry out the activity).
Stephen also has a strong knowledge of local history and finds the time to put together a reminiscing activity that meets residents’ interests. He is a very kindhearted, well-liked, and respected individual.
The Parish of Singleton chose Mrs Helen Shearer as our superstar. Helen has been a dedicated and supportive Church Warden, both appointed by the church community and selected by the Rector, for over 30 years.
A very practical person, Helen has always been proactive and actively involved in all aspects of church life, from liaising with tradespeople, working on the finance committee, buying the toilet paper and hand towel supplies – the list goes on!
Helen has been involved in our Op Shop since its inception in 2010. She is on the roster several times per month, helps sort donations twice weekly, and empties the donation bins twice or more weekly.
Helen is a PowerPoint operator at worship, on the reading and welcoming rosters for worship, the counting and banking rosters, and the cleaning roster at All Saints’ –and has been for many years.
Helen enjoys gardening and has a beautiful garden, which she willingly shares to host garden parties to raise funds for mission and for social gatherings.
Helen is a remarkable woman. She is energetic and committed, dedicated and kind – a wonderful example of a Christian life well-lived and a hardworking volunteer.
Scenic Lodge nominated Mary Irwin, who started on 21 May 2013.
Mary comes every Thursday; she attends to our Lolly Trolley, visiting each resident to see if they wanted to get anything, goes around selling raffle tickets, painting fingernails, looking for missing clothing, and takes part in morning tea and bus outings. Mary is a wonderful volunteer, and all the residents enjoy her friendly smile and chats.
Janelle is enthusiastically taking on the role of P&F president.
She is at the forefront of initiating some great incentives and aims to lift the profile of the P&F to encourage more parents and caregivers to join.
Janelle has had previous experience in fundraising roles, and with great success! We are very blessed to have her join the team for MVAC and look forward to working together throughout the year.
Janelle has big plans and ideas, and we cannot wait to see how the effects of this trickles through to the students.
Naomi has been volunteering for about 20 years. She volunteers each Monday, spending time with individual residents and doing Catholic communion, prayers, and fellowship, as well as other spiritual and social support.
She also works with a Catholic priest to provide a Catholic Anointing Mass twice a year. She is caring, dedicated, and a very important part of the spiritual care provided to our residents.
Anne has been a volunteer at Storm Village for more than four years and puts her heart and soul into everything she does.
She is happy to teach a resident to knit, crotchet, or even make coat hangers. Our craft group is growing, and it is lovely to see more people turning up. Some just sit with the ladies, have a coffee and a catch up, or colour in.
Anne has made some good friends from the craft group, as well as the staff, over the years.
She is also willing to assist with other activities as required and loves to help with the Biggest Morning Tea. Anne loves being a part of Storm Village and hopes to be involved for many more years.
Well done and thank you to these seven superstars, and to our volunteers across all Newcastle Anglican agencies.
“Anglican Care has wonderful nurses working across our facilities. They are at the frontline of our organisation. They build relationships with the people we support and understand their needs. They add value to who we are.
On International Nurses Day, we want to recognise the contribution of our nurses and celebrate their importance to Newcastle Anglican and the communities we support.
Our nurses perform complex tasks every day. From treating and preventing illness to ensuring the dignity of the people we support.Our nurses are a vital support system for our aged care residents. They address clinical and physical needs and, just as importantly, provide emotional, cultural, mental, and spiritual support and connection. Our nurses often sacrifice time with their own families, including Easters and Christmas’, to care for the people we support.
Many of our nurses’ work in regional areas, and deal with the challenges that often brings. This was never more evident than during the peak of COVID-19.
Our Board recognises the importance of working together and is continuously collaborating with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and the Department of Health to see how we can best support our nurses in an ever-changing environment.
To our nurses, on International Nurses Day, and every day, thank you.”
- John BarrigaInternational Nurses Day is celebrated around the world on 12 May – the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth.
“International Nurses Day is an opportunity to recognise the people that invest their time and energy in this great profession. Many of our nurses’ work overtime and additional hours to care for the people we support.
We know the industry is enduring a nursing shortage. This has only highlighted just how critical nurses are to the health and wellbeing of Australians.
We are grateful for our nurses every day. We want to take this opportunity to reflect and recognise the individuals working with Anglican Care. Our people are giving their utmost for those who are receiving care from us.
The theme of International Nurses Day this year is ‘Our Nurses. Our Future’.Newcastle Anglican is seeking to meet new nursing requirements in all our services because, for us, nursing is part of our future.”
Another fabulous Biggest Morning Tea event was held at Alkira Respite and Day Therapy Centre in May, with more than $900 raised for the Cancer Council. Friends new and old enjoyed tasty treats and musical performances while raising money for a great cause. Kilpatrick Court’s version of the Biggest Morning Tea also raised more than $500.
Jesmond Grove residents harvested a fabulous spinach crop as part of the Grow Graze Give program. The spinach was then delivered to the kitchen, where it was used to prepare a delicious lunch for residents. Grow Graze Give is one of Anglican Care’s Sustainability Matters initiatives. It provides an opportunity for residents and consumers to have a connection with nature and to enjoy the many benefits of growing herbs and vegetables.
Click here to learn more about the program.
Mother’s at Kilpatrick Court traveled back in time, and reminisced through a mirror of old family photos.
Research conducted by the National Anglican Church found the prevalence of intimate partner violence among Anglicans is the same, if not higher, than in the wider community.
Domestic and family abuse is no longer considered a private matter but a societal issue, and we must all make a stand against it.
A ‘Domestic and Family Abuse Awareness Sunday’ will take place on 23 July.
It is an opportunity for parishes to have an increased concentration on domestic and family abuse and reflect on what they can do in response to an issue affecting many within the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle.
Our Bishops will share the work being done on a national level and explain how this is guiding our response.
Domestic and Family Abuse Project Officer Kylie Harrod is also available to visit parishes to give more details and presentations.
Newcastle Anglican has entered Stage Two of its Domestic and Family Abuse Project. This stage includes a focus on Clergy. It aims to help them respond to the issue of domestic and family abuse.
A second study from the National Anglican Church found that Clergy and lay leaders’ confidence in their personal capacity to respond to the issue was only low to moderate.
In response to this, our Diocesan Clergy will now participate in a two-hour domestic violence awareness workshop, delivered by Lifeline.
This training will enable them to gain a greater awareness of the issue, so they can better recognise the signs and respond appropriately to those affected by it.
To further increase confidence in our ability to respond, the Diocesan Domestic and Family Abuse Working Group has developed responding resources, which highlight key considerations that need to be addressed.
These resources cover legal and ethical obligations; key steps and considerations when responding; where to refer; and making a referral.
It’s hoped this increased knowledge will enable the Clergy to offer support with an emphasis on safety-first, deep listening and validation, while also knowing where they can make a referral for specialist support.
Domestic and Family Abuse
Awareness
Sunday 23 July
Birds, fish, water, and trees set the scene as three members of Newcastle Anglican’s environmental arm sit down for a chat.
“We’re at the Hunter Wetlands Centre [in Shortland], and scientists tell us that if you cut open a bird or fish there is likely to be microplastics or plastics inside,” Anglican EcoCare Chair Reverend Andrew Eaton says.
“Part of our mission is to get parishes engaged with all aspects of being ecofriendly and environmentally aware. So, we’re encouraging parishioners and the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle to make lots of small changes to their lifestyles.”
Reverend Andrew is joined by fellow members Robyn Fry and Dr Di Rayson in discussing Anglicans’ longstanding concerns about environmental issues and their impact on people and the planet. These concerns can be seen in the Five Marks of Mission – an important statement that describes the Anglican Communion’s common commitment, including to protect and conserve the environment and life on Earth.
On World Environment Day (5 June), Anglican EcoCare renewed calls to reduce the number of plastics we consume in our everyday lives.
“We want our parishes to think about going plastic free with everything they do,” Reverend Robyn Fry says. “That means no more plastic cups. Try instead to get things in paper or cardboard and buy products that don’t come in plastic.”
World Environment Day is a timely reminder that people’s actions on plastic pollution matters. It also highlights the steps governments, businesses, and organisations are taking to tackle the issue.
“A number of our parishes will take the opportunity to plant trees on the day,” Reverend Andrew says.
“Dioceses all over the world will do the same and they are responding to the climate crisis, in line with the fifth mark of the Anglican Communion. We’d love our churches and different Diocesan agencies to take World Environment Day as a springboard into a greater focus on what we do.”
Apart from making small changes within its own parishes, the Diocese of Newcastle has also been leading the way on the world stage. The Diocese was the first in Australia to make an official commitment to stop investing in fossil fuel companies. This means its assets will be permanently off limits.
The Global Divestment Commitment, which included 30 other faith institutions from the USA, UK, Canada, Italy, and France, represented more than $2 billion in assets under management.
Rayson says.
“We are happy to support local church communities in making small changes to their everyday lives, but it’s those massive policy changes that we, as a Diocese, want to be involved in.”
For more information visit www.newcastleanglican.org.au/about/anglicanecocare/
Young people across the state celebrated their achievements and raised awareness of social and environmental issues during NSW Youth Week.
The annual event encouraged thousands of participants to embrace the theme Connect.Participate.Celebrate
Samaritans Reconnect and Homelessness Youth Assistance Program (HYAP) Team Leader Kathryn Manning said NSW Youth Week could help change the narrative around young people.
“We’re getting an awful lot of negative media where young people are stealing cars, breaking into homes, speeding, getting arrested – and that’s a challenge for those who are doing the right thing,” she said.
“There are a lot of young people who are overcoming massive challenges in their lives and excelling and becoming incredible individuals.
“We’ve got much to celebrate in young people, and I’d like to see that sort of thing come to the front, where we celebrate the fact that we have such wonderful young people in society.
“Being a young person is extremely difficult, but I also think we’re seeing a breakthrough with many young people becoming more individualised and voicing their opinions in order to make changes in their lives that are more suited to them.”
Samaritans’ youth services, as part of Newcastle Anglican, offer extensive support to young people in Newcastle and surrounding areas.
These services help with everything from counselling, accommodation and parenting advice to drugs and alcohol and relationship support.
Reconnect – an early intervention program that supports and connects young people from falling into the cycle of homelessness – recently received a three-year funding extension as part of the Federal Government’s $91.7 million investment in addressing youth homelessness.
Ms Manning said housing affordability, access to mental health services, climate change, understanding and acceptance of gender diversity, social media, and cyber bullying were major issues for young people.
“They are trying to break into a rental market that just keeps increasing,” she said.
“Many of them are living with other young people just to be able to afford to put a roof over their head.
“There are also long waits to see a mental health service and the expense is very difficult for them to cope with.
“Our services are there to help. It’s not about dictating to young people how or who they should be but saying to them: ‘This is you, let’s celebrate you as the person you are or support you to become the person you want to be.’”
NSW Youth Week celebrations took place in April.
For more information visit www.nsw.gov.au/nsw-youth-week-2023 or www.samaritans.org.au/services/youth-services
The Manning Valley Anglican College (MVAC) student has spent many hours on the frontline for the Wallaby Joe Rural Fire Service (RFS). Keeley, who is only 16 years old, followed in her mother’s footsteps and became a volunteer after witnessing their vital role during the 2019 bushfires that ravaged the Mid Coast.
After entering the Wallaby Joe Junior Program two years ago, Keeley was trained under the watchful eye of RFS Brigade Captain Reverend Brian Ford. She now boasts basic bush firefighter qualifications.
So, what does your average weekend look like for a teenage firefighter? There is more commitment away from the frontline than you might first think.
Part of the job requires a community commitment – an educational aspect to help people prepare their homes and become fire aware. Prevention and education go hand in hand, which is why Keeley developed ‘Wear Yellow Day’ at MVAC in 2022.
For a simple gold coin donation, students don the colour yellow and meet members of the Wallaby Joe RFS to learn more about fire safety measures.
Unfortunately, fires can still occur regardless of the best education and prevention methods. In fact, one of the biggest blazes Keeley faced was a grass fire at Mt George, about 45 kilometres from the college, which was sparked by a lightning strike. After five days of burning and three days of volunteering on the frontline, Keeley was finally able to relax.
Many people might not share the same passion for fighting fires as Keeley, and she isn’t planning to stop anytime soon. “I love it. From the first day to my first fire, I’ve wanted to continue,” she said.
Keeley eventually wants to join Fire and Rescue full time but, for now, she has her sights set on completing Year 11.
Donations to the Wallaby Joe RFS are always welcome. Funds raised will help replace equipment and provide non-perishable food items to those in need.
You can meet Keeley and the team in person on the first Saturday of every month during the Wingham Farmer’s Markets at the Wingham Baptist Church.
Some highlights from our schools
Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College hosted the da Vinci Decathlon during Term Two, welcoming 70 teams from across the Hunter region. The competition was fierce as they battled for a spot in the state final. The event showcased dedication, teamwork, and a love for learning and the memories created and friendships formed will last a lifetime. Congratulations to all the teams for their outstanding spirit. The BTAC team deserves a special shoutout for their top results, which made the school community incredibly proud.
Lakes Grammar School commemorated National Reconciliation Week by organising a diverse range of activities aimed at strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the broader Australian community.
Our senior school captain Charlotte Dobson captured this year’s theme – ‘Be a Voice for Generations’ – by sharing her own story with the school community.
The senior and junior school were privileged to take part in a smoking ceremony, skilfully conducted by local Darkinjung elder Uncle Gavi and Reverend Canon Director of Reconciliation from Newcastle Anglican, Auntie Di Langham.
A ‘Sea of Hearts’, an inspiring art installation, adorned both the senior and junior school during the week.
The Mental Health Advocacy Program team (MHAP) also organised a mufti-day, where students dressed in red, yellow, or black attire and contributed funds towards Children’s Ground.
This charity focuses on empowering every child in Indigenous communities, aiding their personal learning, health, and cultural development.
Diversity was the topic for discussion when Anglican Bishop of Newcastle Peter Stuart met with Manning Valley Anglican College (MVAC) students. Bishop Peter engaged in a Q&A session with the MVAC Diversity Group, providing a positive step towards a more inclusive future for all. The school project aims to promote, educate, and celebrate all forms of diversity within its community and beyond. Staff and students are celebrating MVAC’s 20th year in education by reflecting upon past achievements and looking to the future with excitement. Bishop Peter met with the students in late May.
During the Scone Horse Festival, the Scone Grammar School P&F organised our Fete and Markets. The festival theme for 2023 was ‘Kings and Queens of the Stable’. The Fete and Markets aims to welcome the Scone community to our school grounds and provides lunch for the crowds that come to watch the parade. The parade ‘Best Float’ was won by our very own Yellow Cottage Preschool. Both The Yellow Cottage and SGS Floats were decorated by staff. Fete stalls were manned by staff, students, and parents of the SGS community. These included the bread stall, raffles, market fresh flowers, book stall, food stalls, face painting, hair braiding, side show alley, rides, and our very own Grammar Grind Cafe. Thousands of community members visited our Fete and Market stalls after the parade in what is one of our major fundraisers for the year.
PHONE (02) 4926 3733
EMAIL info@newcastleanglican.org.au
POST PO Box 817 87 Toronto Road, Booragul NSW
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