Distribution 2200
June 2014
Mannum, South Australia 5238
Issue Number 91
FREE
A Mag-nificent Legacy Remembering Rod Mann y beautiful husband, Rod Mann, died on May 2nd at Mary Potter Hospice. During this time of sadness and loss, I’ve found comfort remembering Rod and knowing the wonderful gift he was, not only to me, our families and friends, but to many people in various communities. And thinking about the impact of his time in Mannum, The Mannum Mag stands out as a magnificent legacy. 2005 was a pivotal year for us. We’d married in March the year before and I had happily settled into married life, appreciating the sense of ‘community’ in Mannum that was so dear to Rod. I felt enormous gratitude for my new life with this extraordinary man. Then, just before our first anniversary Rod was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and our lives were forever changed. But Rod soon integrated this new reality, living his mantra of accept and embrace. Those who’ve journeyed with him since, and particularly through the last fifteen months, have, with the utmost awe and respect, witnessed Rod’s acceptance and embracing of the many challenges that life presented him. Midway through 2005 Rod became enthusiastic about the potential of a community newspaper; and when Rod had a sense of possibility he spared no energy in making it a reality. The Mannum Mag was conceived and after a short gestation Sample Issue 1 was delivered in December. While Rod was the paper’s instigator, he was greatly assisted by many, including the Uniting Church community who, in Rod’s own words, had “suffered and supported my ideas faithfully for eight years.” There were also those willing to support this endeavour through advertising, contributions, sharing of opinions, selling goods or making known their talents, skills, interests and gifts. Taking his idea to a community meeting in January 2006, Rod found essential support from a small and committed group who said “yes” to this opportunity and ran with it... and they’re still running 90 editions later!! Rod never thought of the paper as his; it belonged to the community. He sought neither thanks nor praise. In his tribute during
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the celebration of Rod’s life, dear friend Ralph Pitman said, “I can imagine Rod saying, ‘thank me no thank you’s... for we did it together.’” Rod was a man of careful words. Without the need to fill the space with his own, he provided a clear space for others to speak, to be heard, for issues to surface, for things to be brought into the light. He claimed no answers, being much more interested in questions and encouraging others to find their own answers to the challenges and mysteries of life. As Ralph put it, “he was not a guru – nor a mentor – he simply walked with us.” Rod would often say he was “just working out his stuff alongside others working out their stuff.” Rod’s was a ministry of presence. He found the sacred in relationship with people in the everyday moments and places; in the street, at the Ground Floor, in the supermarket, gym, Mannum Club, the Men’s Group, Meditation and Art n Soul groups, at the Rec, with the Mag folders at the Showgrounds. I believe The Mannum Mag is a reflection of Rod’s way of being in connection with community. Rod loved receiving his copy of the Mag each month (thank you to the anonymous sender) and seeing how well utilized it was. In his final words about Rod, Ralph concluded that he wouldn’t think of “ashes to ashes or dust to dust – but rather stardust to stardust – for he truly was a star.” To me, Rod was, is and will forever be; a gentle and guiding light. Ruth
Welcome Party for New Residents ne month after the inaugural ‘Welcome Party’ lunch at the Many thanks to Jester Cruises, the Welcoming Party group and rowing club in March, the lucky new comers were offered the support from Mid Murray Support Services, Opal and Mid Murray chance to reconnect with each other during a free tour on the Jester Council through the Arts and Cultural Development Officer, Tess Minett. – well known tour business in The next Welcoming Party lunch Mannum. Owners Helen and Jeff will be at the end of September and Griffiths generously donated their new comers will be contacted through boat, time and tucker to show their a variety of methods and places. If appreciative guests the town and you know of people new to town or down stream shore from a new are new yourself (arriving in the last perspective. 2 years) please get in touch with Tess With informative commentary and at council on 8569 0100. generous welcome, the new Mannum Tess Minett residents enjoyed each others’ company and the perfect autumn day. The happy crowd of new residents at the end of their Jester tour
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Ageing in the Murraylands Calendars & Dates Church Services
7 Classifieds 28 Food is Life is Food 3 Mid Murray Council
27 Mid Murray Support Services 4 On My Bookshelf 24 Musical Miscellany 23 Pause A While 22 Out of this World 8 Whistle Toot
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