The Gippsland Anglican, June 2013

Volume 110, Number 5 June 2013
Published in Gippsland Diocese since 1904

The Gippsland Anglican is your award winning newspaper: Best Regional Publication Bronze Award (ARPA) 2012; Best Regional
Publication Silver Award (ARPA) 2011; Item or Feature that shows the most originality Highly Commended (ARPA) 2011; Best Social
Justice Story Highly Commended (ARPA) 2004; Best Regional Publication (ARPA) 2003; Most Improved Newspaper (ARPA) 2001.
Hands up for
Kidsplus+ fun
Pages 11 to 12
Clothesline makes
a difference
Pages 12 to 13
Gippsland diocese
1944 to 1953
Pages 17 to 19
Aboriginal
ministry is
now core
business
By Jeanette Severs
ABORIGINAL ministry became core busi-
ness for the Gippsland Anglican Diocese as
a result of this years Synod. Graham
Knott, of Maffra parish, successfully pro-
posed a notice without motion that unused
land and buildings in the diocese be used
to fund Aboriginal ministry. Edie Ashley
seconded the motion.
Aboriginal ministry has been heavily
dependent on parish contributions through
mission fundraising and special projects
and has been shored up by annual dioce-
san contributions. This now changes the
landscape so Bishop in Council will have to
ensure core funding is committed to
Aboriginal ministry.
Reverends Phyllis Andy and Kathy Dalton
were ordained deacons in February 2010
and priested in February 2011 specifically
to provide Aboriginal ministry across
Gippsland.
In other news from Synod, the second
session went into recess to enable the
draft strategic plan to be workshopped and
a series of questions endorsed by General
Synod in 2004 were criticised for their rel-
evance. The questionaires were placed on
the agenda because Gippsland has no
record of endorsement, even though they
have been used in this diocese since 2004.
Gippsland Synod debated the intent of
the questionaires and some questions
therein, asking if the respondent has been
charged with any offences, even if not
prosecuted or found guilty.
A motion proposed by Mark Woods
regarding renewable energy was passed
and will enable the appointment of a work-
ing party to assist parishes in utilising solar
and other power alternatives. Full reports
on Synod in the following pages.
YOUNG people from across the
diocese, aged six to 18 years,
enjoyed the Kidsplus+ camp held
recently near Stratford. Among
the participants were some South
Sudanese refugee children whose
families have settled in
Gippsland. More photographs and
the camp report inside, along
with the Kidsplus+ annual report
to Synod in May.
2 Our Diocese - Features June 2013
The Gippsland Anglican
The Gippsland
Anglican
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Editor: Mrs Jeanette Severs,
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Index
Synod wrap-up 1
Grafton bishop resigns 2
Presidents charge 3-10
Kidsplus+ fun 11
Hands up for fun 12
Anglicare focus 12
Clothesline project 13
Cathedral mission 14
MU serves 15
Cursillo report 15
Synod resolutions 16
Diocesan history 17-19
Synod pictorial 20
Diocesan calendar 20
FOLLOWING the resigna-
tion of the Right Reverend
Keith Slater as Bishop of
the Anglican Diocese of
Grafton, on Friday, May 17,
Archdeacon Greg Ezzy will
fulfil the role of Administra-
tor until the appointment of
a new bishop.
On behalf of the interim
leadership, Archdeacon
Ezzy stated: We regret the
serious error of judgment
made by Bishop Keith
Slater, when he responded
to complaints of abuse
which occurred at the North
Coast Childrens Home
some decades ago but we
commend our Bishop for his
honest acknowledgement
of mistakes in this regard.
We support the genuine
apology he has made to
survivors of abuse. We af-
firm him in his generosity
and courage in resigning his
Episcopate as an expres-
sion of the serious effects
these decisions may have
brought about for some of
those survivors.
Right Reverend Keith
Slater resigned, effective
immediately, on May 17.
Following is a public state-
ment by Bishop Slater re-
garding the management of
claims of abuse by the Dio-
cese of Grafton at the North
Coast Childrens Home in
Lismore NSW.
Since 2006, Grafton dio-
cese has received a number
of claims alleging acts of
physical, psychological and
sexual abuse at the North
Coast Childrens Home in
Lismore NSW. The abuse
took place over a number of
decades (1940s to 1980s).
The alleged perpetrators
included staff at the Home,
visiting clergy, members of
holiday host families and
other residents.
When the claims were ini-
tially received, it was nec-
essary to clarify the
dioceses legal liability for
the actions at the Home.
Legal opinion stated the
diocese did not have a legal
responsibility.
However, given the
Churchs recognised con-
nection with the Home, the
diocese resolved it did have
a moral responsibility to re-
spond to these claims and
chose to settle them as ex-
pediently as it could.
In 2007, the diocese set-
tled 39 claims through a
payment negotiated with
the solicitors acting for the
claimants. Two other
claimants were not ready to
settle at that time.
In the cases of sexual
abuse and where the per-
petrators were identified,
the diocese informed the
Police and received advice
that police investigations
had been instigated. This
related specifically to alle-
gations against two mem-
bers of clergy who were still
alive at the time the claims
were presented.
After the majority of
claims were settled, seven
more people came forward.
The diocese received these
additional claims between
2008 and 2011, some
through a solicitor; some
complainants chose to write
directly to me as bishop. A
few, but not all, alleged
sexual abuse while resident
at the Home.
In 2004, the diocese
adopted a Professional
Standards Ordinance and
Protocol which outlines the
obligations and processes
for managing complaints of
sexual abuse. An important
obligation in the protocol is
that all matters are referred
to the Professional Stan-
dards Director to ensure
the complaint is managed
and investigated in a way
that provides support to the
complainant.
In November 2012,
Bishop-in-Council of the
Grafton diocese resolved to
support the work of the
Royal Commission and, in
preparation, undertake an
audit of the management of
all Professional Standards
matters in the diocese.
The audit is still in
process and the final find-
ings are not yet known.
However, some initial find-
ings in January 2013 indi-
cated that the Professional
Standards Protocols had
not always been applied,
specifically in matters asso-
ciated with claims of abuse
at the North Coast Chil-
drens Home.
I acknowledge I was re-
sponsible for ensuring full
compliance with the proto-
col and I failed in this duty.
Some matters detailing
sexual abuse at the North
Coast Childrens Home,
were not referred to the
Professional Standards Di-
rector as they should have
been.
I apologise to those com-
plainants who were not
given access to the Profes-
sional Standards Director. I
also acknowledge that, by
not referring these matters,
the Professional Standards
Director was not provided
with information that could
have assisted ongoing in-
ternal and police investiga-
tions. All information has
now been provided to the
Professional Standards Di-
rector, who is currently li-
aising with the police to
ensure all relevant informa-
tion has been provided to
them.
The Diocese responded to
the additional claims re-
ceived between 2008 and
2011 in different ways.
Some were finalised
through a financial settle-
ment, which met the re-
quest of the complainant, in
a manner similar to the ma-
jority of claims settled be-
fore them. Others were
advised Grafton diocese
was no longer willing to
make financial settlements
in regard to claims associ-
ated with the North Coast
Childrens Home.
While I responded to
some of these complaints
personally, others were re-
ferred to the diocesan solic-
itor for response. I
acknowledge Grafton dio-
cese should have received
and investigated each new
claim put before it and
there was no justification
for the decision new claims
would not have access to
the same financial settle-
ment process made avail-
able to the earlier
claimants.
I acknowledge our offer
of a pastoral care package
was poorly communicated
and did not provide an ade-
quate response to meet the
immediate needs of the
complainants. I acknowl-
edge my pastoral failings in
adopting this approach.
I apologise to those who
bravely came forward to tell
their story of abuse and
were turned away. I ac-
knowledge the pain and
further damage this re-
sponse may have caused.
These people have now
been contacted by the cur-
rent Professional Standards
Director and Grafton dio-
cese will now respond to
them appropriately and
manage their complaints in
accordance with the proto-
col.
It is difficult to reflect on
how these failures of
process and pastoral re-
sponse happened. Grafton
diocese had never before
dealt with complaints of
such magnitude as those
associated with the North
Coast Childrens Home.
The immediate question
of legal liability had initially
clouded the matter. As the
claimants were represented
by a solicitor, the diocese
engaged a solicitor to facil-
itate the process. This set a
precedent of responding to
all subsequent claims with
the support and advice of a
diocesan solicitor.
This does not excuse the
failings I have detailed as,
even though the financial
settlements were being ne-
gotiated through solicitors,
those claims alleging sexual
abuse, should have been
concurrently managed in
accordance with the Profes-
sional Standards Ordinance
and protocol.
Information on the fail-
ings identified in January
2013 has been referred to
the Royal Commission into
Institutional Responses to
Child Sexual Abuse. Both I
and others in Grafton dio-
cese are committed to sup-
porting the work of the
Royal Commission and are
willing to provide further
assistance as required.
I acknowledge and apolo-
gise for my past failings in
the management of claims
of abuse in the Diocese of
Grafton. I acknowledge and
apologise for the additional
pain and damage my deci-
sions have caused to the
survivors of abuse who
came forward to share their
story with me and seek as-
sistance.
Grafton bishop resigns
FACNG THE
TRUTH
GO online for progress on
the Victorian enquiry into
child abuse and the Com-
monwealth enquiry into
how institutions dealt with
reports of child abuse.
For personal help, contact
Victorian police:
Morwell, 03 5131 5090
Sale, 03 5143 5000
Bairnsdale, 5150 2675
Melbourne, 03 9247 5538
Or contact Cheryl Russell,
Director of Professional
Standards, Gippsland An-
glican Diocese, 0407
563313 or email cheryl-
russell1@bigpond.com
June 2013 Our Diocese - Gippslands Synod 3
AS WE come together for
synod this year, uppermost
in our deliberations to-
gether must be the future
directions we look to under
God in the life of our dio-
cese for the next five years.
For the past five years, we
have sought to focus our
endeavors in ministry and
mission through a diocesan
strategic plan, Jesus Christ,
Here and Now, for Gipps-
land. I think it can be
demonstrated the plan has
given greater intentionality
to what we have done as
churches over those years;
and significant new ministry
initiatives have resulted
from the plan being in
place.
In contemplating a new
strategic plan, I have be-
come aware that, more
than a common plan, the
role of the diocese as a
whole is to agree on com-
mon strategic directions.
Each congregation should
then be encouraged to de-
velop their own particular
plans for ministry and mis-
sion in light of the direc-
tions on which we have all
agreed.
To introduce our discus-
sion on strategic directions,
let me reiterate what I said
in calling the diocese to
prayer earlier this year. At
the time I said: In a year
when we are looking to
launch new strategic direc-
tions, remember, prayer is
vital. In our planning, we
may come up with all kinds
of good ideas and innova-
tive schemes. But without
prayer they will come to
nothing.
The focus of the vision to
shape our strategic direc-
tions for the next five years
is to discover in Jesus Christ
what it means to be fully
human. Being human is
what we have in common
with every other person in
the world and most human
beings are on a journey to
discover the full potential of
their humanity. This gives
opportunity for us to en-
gage with others on com-
mon ground, as people who
point to Jesus Christ, as the
one in whom the humanity
in which all people share
finds its fullest expression.
If we are to do that well,
we must be absolutely in-
tentional in pointing to
Jesus Christ in all we are,
do and say. Otherwise, how
will people see him or how
will people be given oppor-
tunity to respond to him in
faith, or to join us in follow-
ing him together? The ca-
pacity of our churches to be
healthy primarily depends
on our willingness to take
up the challenge of con-
stantly pointing to Jesus in
ways accessible to others.
I refer you here to the re-
flections on the draft strate-
gic plan you received as
part of your synod papers.
This contains a draft of sug-
gested priorities for new
strategic directions for The
Journey Inward, The Jour-
ney Outward and The Jour-
ney Together, as well as the
rationale behind them. I
hope you have read these
papers in preparation for
our discussions as in this
synod session we move to
adopt strategic directions
for the next five years.
I do not intend to rehearse
those reflections at this
point but there is one mat-
ter I wish to highlight from
them and that is the critical
need for change if the bulk
of our congregations across
the diocese are to have a
future, let alone to grow.
In those reflections I
noted: Change in the way
in which we express what it
means to be church and in
the ways in which we point
others to Jesus Christ, will
only arise in a context
where, as Christians, we
are each prayerfully open
ourselves to being changed
or transformed by God.
New insight will only come
as we deliberately seek to
be open to Gods Spirit in
our reading of the Bible and
in reflection on our faith.
Only as each of us takes the
risk to go to the new places
to which God is taking us
will the things of God be
born in us; in our worship-
ping communities and in
the communities in which
we worship.
This is why The Journey
Inward remains a vital
component of our new
strategic directions. Any
changes we contemplate in
The Journey Outward and
The Journey Together will
inevitably only come to
fruition in light of our will-
ingness to ourselves be
changed by God and, in
turn, to be open to the
changes necessary to fur-
ther our ministry and mis-
sion as church.
The changes we must con-
template are certainly chal-
lenging. They require us
not to think of ourselves
and our own needs but to
respond to the call to follow
Jesus Christ in first serving
the needs of others, despite
the cost to ourselves. As we
contemplate these realities
I am reminded of the wis-
dom of a former Archbishop
of Canterbury, William Tem-
ple, who said: The church
is the only voluntary organ-
isation that exists for the
benefit of non-members
only.
We need to make this a
reality in our life as church
in every dimension of our
ministry and mission. I look
forward to our discussion in
this synod session of the
new diocesan strategic di-
rections for 2013 to 2017.
Aboriginal Ministry
A MATTER continuing to
test us in the life of the dio-
cese is our capacity to sus-
tain the financial viability of
Aboriginal Ministry. The
Aboriginal Ministry Fund
still does not attract sub-
stantial sustained giving,
except by a few. One sug-
gestion I would offer to ad-
dress this vital need in our
diocese regards the sale
over recent years of various
land in parishes across the
diocese. In some cases, this
has been by decision of the
parish to divest itself of an
under-utilised church or
other land. In other cases,
the people of the parishes
in which thise land was lo-
cated were not even aware
the land was there.
In a few further cases,
even when parishes were
made aware of this land,
they failed to act and the
registry staff has completed
sales to the benefit of those
parishes. We are especially
indebted to the registrar,
Brian Norris; to our
archivist, Tim Gibson; and
to my former personal as-
sistant, Kerrie Schmidt, for
the work they have done in
this regard.
The combined value of the
land sold from 2004 until
2011, now realised and
held in trust, is more than
$1.5 million. Since then,
Presidents charge
Be a part of supporting the
Aboriginal Ministry
Fund

The AMF exists to resource employment of
Aboriginal people in ministry; training of
Aboriginal people for ministry; development
of Aboriginal ministry in the community; the
planting of Aboriginal churches; education
of the Diocese about Aboriginal issues.

Be a part of achieving these aims.

Contact the Diocese of Gippsland
453 Raymond Street, Sale, Victoria
PO Box 928, Sale, 3853
Telephone 03 5144 2044
Fax 03 5144 7183
Email registrar@gippsanglican.org.au
continued next page
4 Our Diocese - Gippslands Synod - Presidents charge June 2013
from previous page
further land has been sold
or is about to be sold in
other parishes. It is true
that some of this capital
may have since been spent
on capital works by those
parishes for which it is held
in trust, but a substantial
amount would still remain
held in trust.
I suggest this synod re-
solve to ask Bishop-in-
Council to establish a
working group to explore
viable ways of ensuring the
ongoing financial sustain-
ability of Aboriginal ministry
into the long-term future
based on these land sales.
It could well be the parishes
for whom the realised value
of sold land is held in trust
would be willing to con-
tribute all or some propor-
tion of the capital held in
trust for them to an invest-
ment fund for the support
of Aboriginal ministry.
In line with diocesan in-
vestment policy, 80 per
cent of the income earned
from this fund would then
go into The Aboriginal Min-
istry Fund, with the remain-
ing 20 per cent capitalised
to build the investment
fund. Furthermore, those
parishes with significant in-
vestments due to bequests
made to them from the sale
of land could also be invited
to participate in the
scheme. I think this pro-
posal has the potential to
establish a solid foundation
for the financial sustainabil-
ity of Aboriginal ministry in
the diocese.
An attractive aspect to the
current proposal is it is tied
to land. Perhaps the great-
est impact we have had on
the indigenous people of
Australia was unjustly to
deprive them of the land of
which they are the rightful
custodians and on which,
by tradition, they have
been dependent for sur-
vival, sustenance and cul-
tural identity. Wealth
derived from land is a most
fitting way of supporting
Aboriginal ministry and one
way of giving back from
that which in the first place
was wrongfully taken. I
commend this suggestion
to you. If, after examina-
tion, it proves not to be vi-
able, I think we have no
other choice than to include
the full support of Aborigi-
nal ministry as a line item
in the annual budget; a
possibility I suggested in
my address to synod last
year.
The Abbey
I AM delighted the devel-
opment application for the
Abbey has finally come
through after nearly three
years of hard work by those
involved in this ministry,
people both within our
midst and from the wider
community, who have of-
fered assistance in so many
ways. The huge challenge
now before us is to raise
the capital needed to build
what has been approved.
Our plan is to seek dona-
tions and grants from a
range of sources beyond
our own resources, as this
is the only hope for the
project to be advanced.
The Abbey is very much
both a model of a new way
of being church and also of
engaging with those out-
side the church around is-
sues we share in common;
in this case, environmental
concern. It is the lead min-
istry of the diocese in line
with the Fifth Mark of Mis-
sion of the Anglican Com-
munion, which relates to
our environmental respon-
sibility as Christians. It is,
furthermore, a whole dioce-
san response to the sug-
gested second priority in
The Journey Outward in the
draft new strategic direc-
tions, which is Being open
to new ways of engaging
with our communities
around their needs.
While the Abbey is very
much part of the ministry
and mission of Paynesville
parish, to which they have
strongly committed, they
see this also as their contri-
bution to a whole diocesan
ministry and mission. For
them and for the Abbey
priest, Edie Ashley, encour-
agement, commitment to
the vision and willingness to
contribute to its develop-
ment from others across
the diocese is essential to
the success of this ministry.
I encourage you and your
parish to consider ways you
can join this endeavor to
ABOVE: Edie Ashley, June Treadwell and Barbara Logan are served dinner on the
Friday evening after Synods first day.
Photo: Christine Morris
continued next page
June 2013 Our Diocese - Gippslands Synod - Presidents charge 5
from previous page
establish a centre for spiri-
tuality and the environment
in our diocese. It is an op-
portunity too good to miss
and a gift not just for Gipp-
sland but potentially for
many people from far be-
yond our borders. To date,
the weight of responsibility
for this ministry, approved
each step of the way by this
synod, has largely been
borne by only a few from
within the diocese. If the
next steps forward are to
be taken successfully, we
will all need to share the
load.
But it is not all about work.
Another vital way to sup-
port the Abbey is through
attendance at its varied
program, looking at issues
of spirituality and the envi-
ronment by using all kinds
of media and activities,
from music and art through
to writing and dance, as
well as providing for retreat
and contemplation. Building
up attendance at the vari-
ous events at the Abbey not
only builds its life but also
provides income vital to its
growth. Beyond all that, I
have yet to meet the per-
son who has not been
blessed simply by being
present in the glorious
godly space that is the
Abbey of St Barnabas at
ABeckett Park.
Same-sex attracted
people
ON matters in the wider
church, it is clear to me we
may never, in the Anglican
Communion, find agree-
ment on the place of same-
sex attracted people in the
life of the church. At the
same time, it is clear to me
an enormous amount of
time, energy and resources
have been poured into
local, national and interna-
tional attempts to find a
common way forward on
this matter. We simply can-
not afford to keep going
this way, largely because
those who bear the pain of
our lack of resolution are
those same-sex attracted
people still struggling to
find full acceptance in our
church.
The impasse we have
reached suits those who do
not want to give a full place
to same-sex attracted peo-
ple in the life of the church
because it continues the
status quo that excludes
them. This is entirely unac-
ceptable as a matter both
of compassion and justice.
The debate on the place of
same-sex attracted people
in the life of the church is
not a simple matter, partly
because of its own com-
plexities but also because it
has focused a range of
other issues in the life of
the Anglican Communion,
not least how we read the
Bible. It is even more com-
plex than that. Underlying
currents to the debate in-
clude the dynamics of
power and control in the life
of the Anglican Commun-
ion, as well as within the
various provinces of the
communion, including our
own in Australia.
This debate has become,
for some, an occasion for
attempting to assert control
in the life of the church.
This has a sinister dynamic
to it. There are those who
seem to think if they can
gain control of the church
they can ensure its purity.
For those who think this
way, the quest for purity of
the whole is essentially the
quest for their own salva-
tion. With impurity comes
the threat of damnation.
The purity of the whole de-
mands the purity of every
part of the whole. The im-
purity of one in their midst
threatens the purity of the
whole. That in turn threat-
ens the salvation of the
whole. Because those who
seek control of the whole to
ensure its purity ultimately
seek their own salvation,
they have no choice but to
exclude those they consider
impure.
In the end, the quest for
control to ensure purity is a
quest that is, by definition,
self-concerned. It is the an-
tithesis of the teaching of
Jesus who said: Those who
want to save their life will
lose it. In other words, if
your intention is to ensure
your own salvation, you do
not understand the truth
which Jesus speaks and you
lose out on the life he of-
fers.
These same dynamics
were present in the con-
frontation between Jesus
ABOVE: Peter Anderson and Wendy McBurnie, both of
Wonthaggi/Inverloch parish, at Synod dinner.
continued next page
from previous page
and the religious authorities
of his day and are ad-
dressed in a number of his
parables. Perhaps most po-
tent is the Parable of the
Father and his Two Sons,
the younger of whom is
prodigal and the older of
whom is diligently dutiful
with a view to his own fu-
ture security. The older son
is highly indignant with the
father who in grace forgives
and includes his brother,
whom he considers im-
moral. He refuses to join in
the celebration where his
brother is not only included
but is the guest of honor.
The message is clear to
the self-righteous religious
leaders of Jesus day,
whose prime concern is to
maintain the purity of the
whole for fear of losing their
own salvation. With passion
and intensity they oppose
all Jesus stands for in his
welcome of those they con-
sider to be sinners, largely
because they see their own
salvation to be at stake if
they are made impure by
consorting with them.
It strikes me there are
quite a few older brothers
and sisters in our church
today. Their presence con-
tributes to the intensity of
the debate on the place of
in the life of the church and
to our incapacity to find a
way forward together.
Having said this, I do
recognise the need to seek
the truth and to affirm the
ministry of those whose re-
sponsibility in the church is
to seek the truth in humil-
ity and with meekness. I
recognise I am among
those who bear that re-
sponsibility. We are under
authority to do this, not
only for the sake of the
church but for all to whom
we minister in the name of
Jesus Christ. I acknowledge
those who continue to take
that responsibility with the
utmost care and serious-
ness, for it is a serious vo-
cation and a grave
responsibility. I recognise
also there are conscien-
tiously held views on both
sides of the debate we need
to have on human sexuality
and those views are held
with integrity. The problem
I see is we limit our capac-
ity to find a way forward
when we get caught up in a
battle for control.
Complicating matters fur-
ther is the way in which the
debate about the place of
in the life of the church has
become the issue chosen
by the Global South mem-
bers of the Anglican Com-
munion, particularly those
in Africa, to challenge the
power and control of the
Global North in the life of
the communion. I have a
lot of sympathy with the
anti-imperial and anti-colo-
nial sentiments of the
Global South, but I think it
a tragedy the lives of same-
sex attracted people are
sacrificed on the altar of
their aspirations for libera-
tion from our ongoing cul-
tural imperialism.
This complex picture mili-
tates against genuine de-
bate and the hope of
finding a way forward in the
life of the communion that
does not further divide us
but rather brings hope, es-
pecially to those most ad-
versely affected by our
exclusion of them.
If we are to find a way for-
ward together in the com-
munion, I suggest we need
only to look to our Anglican
roots in the birth of the
Church of England. When
we do, we discover much of
the cause for the divisions
in the emerging Church of
England had similar dynam-
ics to the current context.
Certainly there was a gen-
uine quest for truth in the
mix. The Reformation un-
leashed a whole raft of new
possibilities for understand-
ing Christianity. Certainly
there was intensity and
passion in that quest. Pro-
tagonists on either side of
the debate even gave their
lives in the quest for truth
as they understood it.
There was also a battle for
control going on. The even-
tual struggle for control was
between those who
yearned for the past glory
of the Holy Roman Empire,
the Mediaeval Papists and
the most extreme of those
emboldened by the new re-
forming theologies, the Pu-
ritans. There was a complex
mix of agendas to do with
the rise of nations eager to
rid themselves of the
shackles of empire, mingled
with the quest for truth and
the desire for control and
purity. It was at least as
complex a picture as the
situation we face in our own
time; a mix of motives
good and bad and of pas-
sion and intensity.
The solution lay in the his-
torical genus of Anglican-
ism, common prayer.
Through the Acts of Unifor-
mity, leading to the 16th
Century Elizabethan Settle-
ment and ultimately to The
Restoration of 1662, com-
mon worship for all was es-
tablished by the law of the
land. Those who disagreed
vehemently with each other
on all manner of things
were required to worship
together with an authorised
liturgy and no other. This
became the basis for a
unity grounded in Jesus
Christ worshipped together
and not based on agree-
ment with each other on all
matters of faith and prac-
tice.
Theological reflection on
this leads us to the grace
which lies at the heart of all
we believe. In worship we
sit together under the grace
of God. Not one person
present is accepted by God
on the basis of right doc-
trine or practice and cer-
tainly not on the basis of
who they happen to be.
Each person is accepted
alone by the grace of God
through the response of
faith. When we acknowl-
edge grace alone is the
basis of our own inclusion
by God and grace alone is
the basis of every other
persons inclusion by God,
then we must acknowledge
grace alone is the basis of
our necessary inclusion of
each other. We cannot be
anything other than an in-
clusive church.
Grace, then, is the theo-
logical foundation of the
unity in Christ affirmed in
common worship. On this
foundation lies the hope we
might love and acknowl-
edge the integrity of one
another. On this foundation
lies the hope that none will
seek to root out those with
whom they disagree on
matters of faith and prac-
tice, but acknowledge to
live by grace is to include all
and any.
It is sadly true that not all
people remained in the
unity first established by
common prayer in former
times. Those who could not
abide the fact there re-
mained in the church so es-
tablished those whom they
believed to be wrong, re-
fused to enter it or later left
it. They excluded them-
selves. Essentially, they in
their day were the older
brother of Jesus parable,
who refuses to go into the
feast.
Today we do not have the
equivalent of a Head of
State who has the authority
to impose legislated de-
mands on the church from
outside the structures of
the church. What we do
have, however, is the her-
itage of the key elements of
that solution by which we
might discern how we can
express our unity in Jesus
Christ in current times.
Those principles begin in
common worship and in our
acceptance in grace of each
other in Christ. This enables
discourse on common
ground that is commonly
affirmed; faith in Jesus
Christ. It enables compre-
hensiveness; the inclusion
of all those who wish to be
included and who accept
their own inclusion is by
grace alone. It gives no
room for judgement of oth-
ers, also accepted by grace
alone. It does not demand
agreement on every matter
of faith and practice be-
cause it recognises unity is
a gift of God in Jesus Christ,
not a product of agreement
achieved by human en-
deavor.
It requires trust of each
other to be true to Jesus
Christ in the different con-
texts in which we find our-
selves. It accepts no-one
dictates to another and au-
thority is dispersed, not
centralised. It affirms diver-
sity as godly. It demands
humility and a gracious
recognition of our own fail-
ings and of the limits to our
own understanding. It pro-
motes listening to each
other with respect and ac-
knowledging the integrity of
those with whom we dis-
agree. It is not exclusive or
excluding.
ABOVE: Barbara and Bevil Lunson, of Orbost parish, with Rowena Armstrong, Chancel-
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In fact, these principles
cannot be imposed from
without. To implement
them requires a discipline
of life as a communion that
can only come from within.
Historically, the Anglican
Communion has sought to
live by these principles
grounded in grace through
its, so-called, Instruments
of Communion, more re-
cently known as Instru-
ments of Unity. These are
the Archbishop of Canter-
bury, as the one with whom
we are all in communion;
the Lambeth Conference,
held every 10 years and
comprising all the bishops
of the international Angli-
can Communion invited to
attend by the Archbishop of
Canterbury; The Primates
Meeting and the Anglican
Consultative Council,
which, as well as bishops,
includes clergy other than
bishops and lay people as
its members. A Joint Stand-
ing Committee, made up of
members of the Primates
Meeting and the Anglican
Consultative Council, also
meets to assist the good
working of the instruments.
None of these bodies lays
down law. Graham James,
Bishop of Norwich, sug-
gests what they do is re-
solve to confer and confer
to resolve, even if the final
resolution of a particular
matter is not reached. This,
he suggests, is due to the
very provision-ality of the
Anglican tradition.
Last year at its meeting,
the Anglican Consultative
Council received a report
from the Inter-Anglican
Standing Commission of
Unity, Faith and Order
which emphasises this pro-
vision-ality and revisits the
rationale behind the instru-
ments of the communion,
while acknowledging their
need for renewal. In its
conclusion, the report
recognises the instruments
as a gift to the life of the
communion by which we
express our koinonia or
communion with each
other.
It suggests a return to the
original terminology of In-
struments of Communion,
rather than the more recent
terminology of Instruments
of Unity. This better em-
phasises their role is to
maintain communion with
each other through rela-
tionships and their role is
not to attempt to enforce
unity, as though they were
mechanisms of legal devis-
ing. Finally, using the anal-
ogy of an orchestral
symphony, the report sug-
gests the renewal of the in-
struments will only occur
when there is a move to-
ward a greater harmony of
working between the in-
struments, made possible
by better relationships be-
tween all those who partic-
ipate in the life of the
instruments and, indeed, of
the whole communion.
The emphasis in the report
is on relationship and dis-
course as opposed to legal
instrument and debate.
This seems to me to be
consistent with the heart of
historical Anglican polity. If
the Anglican Communion
moves in this direction,
trusting and respecting one
another and mindful of one
another in all we do and
say, it strikes me that, even
when we do differ strongly
on some points of faith and
practice, we can continue to
be in communion with each
other.
This is true for any num-
ber of issues, not least how
we understand the place of
in the life of the church. Our
responses to issues will be
different, but no one re-
sponse to any one matter
will dominate the whole.
Certainly we should never
seek to establish mecha-
nisms to impose uniformity
in the communion.
Were we today to embrace
our historical Anglican her-
itage fully, I believe we
would go a long way to re-
moving the unnecessary
conflict and division in the
Anglican Communion
caused by the current de-
bate about the place of
in the life of the church. It
would set us free to affirm
the significant presence
among us of same-sex at-
tracted people, both lay and
ordained; with some living
in faithful life-long relation-
ships. In grace, we would
openly welcome these sis-
ters and brothers in Christ
into our churches and cele-
brate their presence among
us as part of the God-given
diversity of our communion
in all its richness.
I have no doubt this would
enhance the whole of our
ministry and mission as a
church. Our loving accept-
ance of each other, across
significant differences in
faith and practice, would be
a sign in our communities
pointing to Jesus Christ, the
one who affirms the hu-
manity of all people and in
whom we are, each and
every one, transformed into
the fullness of our God-
given humanity; and the
one who gifts us with a
unity transcending all our
differences and affirms our
diversity.
Refugees
MOVING now to matters in
the life of the world, the
most disturbing ongoing as-
pect of Australian politics is
the recalcitrance of both
major political parties in
their hard-line approach to
the plight of asylum seek-
ers. Thousands of people
are still fleeing persecution
in their own land and seek-
ing asylum in safe places
around the world. Interna-
9 May 2013

ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF GIPPSLAND

Editor

An editor is sought for The Gippsland Anglican, the newspaper of the Diocese of Gippsland. The
newspaper is the main means of communication within the Diocese. It seeks to inform readers about
the mission and work of the Anglican Church in Gippsland. It also seeks to engage with the wider
community on issues of broader concern and to promote the values and challenges of the Kingdom
of God.
The editor will have the task of taking the paper into a new era as a 12-16 page tabloid colour
wraparound published monthly in conjunction with The Melbourne Anglican.
To be successful in this role, the applicant will have an interest in and enthusiasm for the Anglican
Church and a passion to communicate within the Anglican community and beyond. A background as
an active member of the Anglican Church would be an advantage though a willingness to understand
and work with the culture of the Diocese and the Anglican community would also be well regarded.
We seek a person with concise writing and story-telling skills along with relevant computer
production skills. The successful applicant will be guided by an editorial committee chaired by the
Bishop of Gippsland. The editor will be expected to work closely with the committee.
The position will be part-time and appropriate conditions of service will be negotiated with the right
person.
For confidential enquiries please contact PhilIp Muston on (03) 5622 3503 during office hours or by
email at pcmuston@dcsi.net.au
Applications should be sent to:
The Registrar,
Diocese of Gippsland,
PO Box 928,
Sale, Vic 3850
Applications close on 30 June, 2013.
ABOVE: Synod is an opportunity for people from parishes across Gippsland to join together.
continued next page
from previous page
tional law says it is not ille-
gal for them to do so. In
contrast to many other
parts of the world, the
number seeking asylum in
Australia is extraordinarily
small. Even so, we still
struggle to accommodate
them, largely due to igno-
rance and fear and the
complicity of politicians in
using these people as op-
portunity for electoral gain.
Unless and until there is
genuine commitment to a
long-term regional solution
to this matter of life and
death for so many people,
this issue will continue to
fester among us. But far
more importantly, innocent
people will continue to die.
It is hard to deny Aus-
tralians are complicit in
these deaths so long as we
turn a blind eye to their
needs.
One very troubling matter
in regard to our policies on
asylum seekers involves
that group of people now
living in Australia who have
been granted asylum as
refugees and yet remain in-
carcerated, in some cases
for up to four years, be-
cause ASIO will not give
them a clearance. These
people, to date, have no
right of appeal regarding
decisions made about them
behind closed doors, with
no requirement for those
decisions to be justified in
any public context.
They are doomed to re-
main locked up for the rest
of their lives unless some-
thing changes. They cannot
be returned to their country
of origin because, in being
accepted as refugees, it has
been determined it would
not be safe for them to do
so. Yet, in Australia, they
have no freedom because
they are presumed guilty
without redress to justice.
It is beyond imagining that
we are not up in arms
about this.
If it is really supposed
they are guilty of crimes
that would prevent their
safe release in Australia,
why are they not being
charged and tried? That
would, at least, give them
recourse to justice. But
worse is the very real pos-
sibility innocent people re-
main incarcerated on the
presumption of unproven
guilt.
This, of all issues, is surely
a no-brainer for Christians.
How can we not speak out
against such cold-hearted
injustice and lack of com-
passion? In writing recently
on this matter, former Lib-
eral Prime Minister, Malcolm
Fraser, said: Ever since the
Tampa incident in 2001,
government ministers both
Liberal and Labor, have
sought to demonise boat
people and make Aus-
tralians fear them.
Fraser goes on to ask:
Are we prepared to allow
our government to estab-
lish a regime so brutal that
the terror it creates would
rival the terror from which
these people fled? High-
lighting our mutual com-
plicity in hypocrisy across
political and religious di-
vide, he reflected in the
same article on Tony
Abbots suggestion all Aus-
tralians should be taught
about Christianity. Fraser
said: Since Abbot has in-
troduced the question of
Christianity into public de-
bate, it may be worth ask-
ing ourselves where he can
find any justification for
Australias refugee policies
within Christianity or any
other religion. Perhaps that
is a question we Christians
should be answering.
Coal Seam Gas
YOU will be aware explo-
ration for Coal Seam Gas
(CSG) is now very much on
the agenda in Gippsland.
The reversal of fortunes
with regard to the availabil-
ity of gas for consumption
in the Unites States of
America (USA) is very
much a driving force behind
the quest for CSG in Aus-
tralia. Up until quite re-
cently, the USA was looking
down the barrel of expen-
sive imports to maintain
their gas supplies. Now, be-
cause of CSG, they are ex-
porting gas. This kind of
possibility is certainly a key
economic driver in the
search for CSG here, both
for oil and gas companies
and for those responsible
for Australias economic fu-
ture.
Clearly, if a safe way of ex-
tracting CSG could be
found, it would bode well
for companies and for the
country, as well as for Gipp-
sland. Add to this the fact
burning gas is far more en-
vironmentally friendly than
burning coal, as well as the
opportunities for new jobs
and you have, for some, an
unassailable argument for
CSG exploration in Gipps-
land.
The critical question, how-
ever, is in regard to the
safety of extraction meth-
ods. Hydraulic Fracturing
(Fracking) is sometimes re-
quired to extract CSG.
Fracking involves large
amounts of water mixed
with sand and one to three
per cent of various chemi-
cals, of which chemicals
only 60 to 80 per cent is re-
covered from the coal
seam. Industry points out
many of the chemicals used
appear naturally or as addi-
tives in products used in
everyday life in common
household goods.
What is not known, how-
ever, is the potential for
contamination when these
chemicals are present in
amounts not controlled or
targeted for their use in
household goods. Unantici-
pated seepage into ground-
water and the food chain is
a real possibility for those
chemicals not recovered
through the extraction
process. Accordingly, the
impact of potential contam-
ination on people, livestock
and the environment is
largely unknown. Evidence
from other parts of Aus-
tralia where CSG extraction
is underway certainly re-
veals that impact is not
good.
We have been told Frack-
ing may not be required in
Gippsland due to the qual-
ity of the coal, thus avert-
ing these particular
potential contamination
problems. Nevertheless,
any extraction of CSG also
raises the possibility of the
release of toxic chemicals
and heavy metals already
present in the coal seam.
Whichever way you look at
it, exploring for and ex-
tracting CSG is a potentially
risky process.
The Victorian Government
has committed to hastening
slowly on CSG exploration
and has put a limited mora-
torium on Fracking for the
time being. In fact, it fin-
ishes very soon. Both State
and Federal governments
also have responsibility to
maintain guaranteed safety
for water supplies, ground-
water being most at risk in
the exploration for and ex-
traction of CSG. There is no
doubt water security is a
critical issue for Gippsland,
especially in those parts de-
pendent on aquifers for the
water supply.
I acknowledge the issues
around CSG are complex,
but I think, for Gippsland,
they can be reduced to one
important question. Why, in
one of Australias most pro-
ductive agricultural regions,
would anyone even think of
putting our water supply
and agricultural lands and
livestock at risk, not to
mention people lives, no
matter how small that risk
is said to be?
I do not think it possible
for any company to give a
100 per cent guarantee
there will never be a risk to
our water security were
CSG exploration and ex-
traction to take place in
Gippsland; and 99.9 per
cent is not enough.
If there is a genuine desire
to reduce the environmen-
tal impact of the burning of
coal and a real concern to
find alternative employ-
ment possibilities for those
impacted by a reduction in
mining and power produc-
tion in Gippsland, why not
consider the possibilities of
developing new sources of
power generation from re-
newable resources? People
still need to be employed
for these new industries to
be developed and they do
not produce carbon dioxide.
Growth in FIFO
IN regard to employment
opportunities for people in
Gippsland and, especially,
those living in the Latrobe
Valley, traditionally depend-
ent on the mining and
power industries, I have
been interested to learn
there has been a significant
growth in the number of
Fly-In-Fly-Out (FIFO) work-
ers in the Valley. The Valley
is a sending community for
these workers going to
other parts of Australia to
earn a living.
While there has been sig-
nificant research into com-
munities on the receiving
end of FIFO workforces,
there is not so much known
about the sending commu-
nities. The Gippsland Trades
and Labour Council has
identified this issue as a
matter of concern for a
growing number of families
in the Valley. It is not diffi-
cult to see the potential is-
sues, especially for young
families, that would arise
from the bread-winner
being away for significant
amounts of time, only to re-
turn for extended home-
time before disappearing
again for a long time.

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ABOVE: Juliet Bond listens intently to Graeme Peters dur-
ing the session where synod representatives went into re-
cess to discuss the draft strategic plan for the diocese.
Photo: Jeanette Severs
continued next page
from previous page
It strikes me this gives
great opportunity for us to
find ways of responding to
the needs of these families
on our doorstops in ways to
provide support to them
and build community
among them in their special
circumstances. Working
with other partners, such as
the Trades and Labour
Council and other service
providers, this is surely one
way in which we can fulfil
our commitment as
churches to our communi-
ties.
Voting & Politics
AS WE are all required to
vote in Federal elections
this year, the question
arises as to how best we
ascertain the policies of
each party and by what cri-
teria we make our assess-
ment of them. As
Christians, I suggest our
criteria are concern for
truth and a commitment to
justice and compassion. Ac-
cess to the detail of party
policies is a challenge and
for most of us what we
glean will be from the daily
media.
That, in itself, is an issue
when the media is so easily
distracted by trivia and
their reports interpreted
within the constraints of
their editorial policies. In
the first place, discernment
in what we read and what
we watch or listen to is vital
in gaining a real apprecia-
tion of the issues at stake
and the significant differ-
ences between the policies
of the parties.
One key measure often
proposed and almost uni-
versally agreed as a meas-
ure for good government, is
the capacity of a govern-
ment to govern for all Aus-
tralians. From a Christian
perspective, I suggest the
best indicator of this meas-
ure is what favors those
most vulnerable in the
community.
Jesus clear preference
was for the poor and, along
with the ancient prophets,
the wellbeing of the poor
and vulnerable is his litmus
test for whether there is
justice and compassion for
the whole of society. Where
the poor and vulnerable are
treated with justice and
compassion, it is guaran-
teed the same will be true
for the rich and powerful.
But where the rich and
powerful are treated with
justice and compassion,
there is no guarantee the
poor and vulnerable will be
included. Hence their condi-
tion becomes the true indi-
cator of the health of the
whole.
On the matter of the re-
cently proposed disability
levy, then, both major par-
ties have withstood the
cries of unfair and deter-
mined they will support this
levy on all Australians as a
means of ensuring those
among us who are disabled
are better able to engage in
and contribute to the com-
munities of which they are
a part. That is encouraging.
Nevertheless, there are
clear differences in relation
to other policies of the var-
ious parties. On education,
for example, the Gonski Re-
view has identified a clear
and growing divide in Aus-
tralia into a two-tiered, un-
just education system
favoring the rich over the
poor. The report has led to
proposals for reform in edu-
cation funding to redress
that divide. A political
partys response to Gonski
is therefore another meas-
ure of how well it will gov-
ern for all Australians.
So it goes for a whole
range of policies. To name
just one more example, the
Coalition proposal to lower
the tax threshold from
$18,000 to $6,000 would
bring more than a million
low-income earners back
into the tax system and in-
crease taxes for six million
Australians earning less
than $80,000 per annum.
Against a background
where a recent report re-
veals a large number of
those earning more than
$1million per annum pay
absolutely no income tax,
while paying out millions of
dollars to the accountants
who advise them on tax
avoidance, it is a troubling
policy.
These are just some ex-
amples and I am certainly
not here to tell you how to
vote. What I do suggest,
however, is each of us
should think seriously about
the effect of any proposed
policy on those most vul-
nerable and poor in our
communities. Do not be
tempted into supporting
simply what may work best
for you. Unfortunately,
much political rhetoric and
commentary focuses on
how voters themselves are
personally affected.
A Christian response is to
ask a far more significant
question. What gives the
greater opportunity for all
people, beginning with the
poor and vulnerable, to
have access to services and
to be able better to con-
tribute what they have to
offer to the whole? I com-
mend this matter to your
prayer and reflection as the
election approaches.
People matters
I move now to people
matters in our diocese.
Among the clergy, Brian
Turner has come out of re-
tirement to take up ministry
as Priest-in-Charge part-
time in Avon parish. Brenda
Burney has moved from
Westernport parish to be-
come Priest-in-Charge of
the Cooperating parish of
Churchill/Boolarra/Yinnar.
Recently, Jo White has ac-
cepted my offer to be li-
censed as Priest-in-Charge
part-time in Yarram parish
and will take up her duties
of office there in June.
Sadly we will soon farewell
Don Saines as Dean. In
what has been a short in-
cumbency, Don has offered
us much in ministry, not
only as Dean and parish
priest in Sale but also in
what he has given towards
training in ministry for both
ordinands and in lay min-
istry development. Pene
Brook also departs with
Don, having offered her
resignation as ecumenical
chaplain at the Churchill
campus of Monash Univer-
sity.
We will miss them both
and their contribution in
ministry to us and we wish
them well in their future
ministries in Melbourne dio-
cese, Don as Dean in the
United Faculty of Theology
and Pene as Chaplain at
Overnewton Anglican
School. Michael Hough has
finished his time in the
Episcopal District of Bunyip.
I have appreciated the time
and energy he has put into
exploring with the local
people news ways of being
church. Malcolm Wilson has
recently resigned for per-
sonal reasons from the
Episcopal District of Nar Nar
Goon. We pray for him and
Frankie as they look to the
future.
Janet Wallis resigned in
the last year from her du-
ties as Regional Dean of the
Southern Region. I thank
Janet for her faithfulness in
ministry in this role. Geoff
Pittaway stepped into the
breach to serve as Regional
Dean of the Southern Re-
gion and is already making
a great contribution to
diocesan ministry in that
role.
We continue to depend
heavily on retired clergy to
assist us with locums, both
when clergy are on leave
and also between the min-
istries of permanent clergy
in parishes. Those who
have acted in these longer
ministries over the past
year have been Brian and
Ann Turner at Avon; Marilyn
Obersby at Churchill/
Boolarra/Yinnar; Roger
Jackman at Croajingolong;
Fred Morrey at Newbor-
ough; Elwyn Sparks at
Westernport and Ken Peters
and John Grace at Yarram.
I thank them all for their
commitment to these min-
istries. I acknowledge also
the ongoing willingness of
others among our retired
clergy who continue to give
of themselves in ministry in
other ways around the dio-
cese, too various to men-
tion individually. Thank you.
We continue to be blessed
with those who answer the
call to ordained ministry
within our diocese. In this
past year, Pene Brook, Fran
Grimes and Katie Peken
were ordained deacon and
Heather Cahill as priest.
During this past year,
Maryann Ashton and Von
Dubbeld have been in dis-
cernment for ordained min-
istry and Sharlene Asmus,
Richard Lanham and David
Perryman are our ordina-
tion candidates. Pene Brook
and Katie Peken will be or-
dained as priests this
month.
Among our stipendiary lay
parish workers, Amanda
Ballantyne resigned as Chil-
dren and Family Worker
part-time in Bairnsdale
parish and John van Merel
was commissioned as Youth
Worker part-time in Neerim
South parish.
ABOVE: Kim Easton (Bairnsdale), Jon Tay-
lor (Sale) and Tony Wicking, Peggy Arthur
and Bill Davies, all of Bairnsdale parish,
discuss the draft strategic plan during
synod.
BELOW: The far west meets far east
parishes: Judy Collins (Nar Nar Goon),
Chris Bennie and Raelene Carroll (both of
Bunyip) and Roger Jackman and Eileen
Thoroughgood of Croajingolong parish,
joined together to discuss the draft strate-
gic plan during a recess in the synod ses-
sion.
Photos: Jeanette Severs
continued next page
from previous page
At Gippsland Grammar,
Mike Clapper resigned as
principal to go to a position
in Canberra with the Mathe-
matics Foundation, a very
fitting role for him. Mike
made a great contribution
to the school in every as-
pect of its life and will be
greatly missed, as will his
wife, Jo, a friend to many of
us and a valued community
worker in Sale.
We welcomed David Baker
as the new principal and
look forward to the contri-
bution he will make to the
school. He, Jane and their
daughters have settled in
well and, under his leader-
ship, the school is looking
to the future with great op-
timism.
Throughout the past year,
various people among us
have received awards for
their contribution to the life
of the communities of
which they are a part. On
Australia Day 2013, Robert
Fordham AM (above left),
from the Abbey Parish of
Paynesville, was made a
member in the General Di-
vision of the Order of Aus-
tralia for significant service
to the Parliament of Victo-
ria, to education, to the An-
glican Church in Australia
and to tourism and eco-
nomic development.
Mark Woods, from Traral-
gon parish (above right),
was announced as the 2012
recipient of the Law Council
of Australia Presidents
Medal. The Presidents
Medal is an annual award
recognising an Australian
lawyers outstanding contri-
bution to the legal profes-
sion. Mark was cited as one
of the professions most
valued members with a
reputation of excellence in
the profession.
Alan Price, from Won-
thaggi/Inverloch parish,
was awarded the National
Medal for his long and out-
standing service in the CFA.
Keith Chenhall, from Traral-
gon parish, received a La-
trobe City Australia Day
Award for his service to the
community of Traralgon as
an active member of the
Traralgon Apex club, Traral-
gon Chamber of Commerce
and Cemetery Trust; as the
creator of his own Keith
Chenhall Charitable Foun-
dation; and for providing fi-
nancial assistance to many
community events.
Congratulations to these
people for their outstanding
contributions in the com-
munity. This is very much
their ministry in the life of
the world. Their contribu-
tion as church members is
a witness to the faith we,
together, express as Chris-
tians and a valued means
by which the faith we pro-
fess is expressed to others
in the community.
After 15 years of faithful
and significant service to
Leongatha parish, Elizabeth
and Russell Conway have
relocated to Melbourne. The
parish Certificate of Appre-
ciation given to them
stated: Thank you for un-
dertaking these and other
duties and responsibili-
ties: Warden, Parish Coun-
cillor, Bishop-in-Council
Member, Chair of Parish
Council, Chair of Chancel-
Sanctuary Sub-Committee,
Chair of Community
Kitchen Sub-Committee,
Member of Clergy Appoint-
ments Board, Photographer,
Sound Adviser, Technical
Adviser. Thank you for
being generous, encourag-
ing, inclusive, caring, wel-
comers, mentors,
hospitality team members,
small group members, peo-
ple of sound counsel and
people with suggestions for
development; a fitting ac-
knowledgement of their
contribution both to parish
and diocese.
As always, each year sees
the death of beloved and
valued members of our
parishes. We note in partic-
ular the death of Reverend
Deaconess Nancy Drew in
August 2012. With her
death came the passing of
an era in the life of our dio-
cese. The deaconesses of
this diocese were significant
pioneers of ministry and
Nancy was very much a
leader among them.
The attempts of Bishop-in-
Council to have Nancy in-
cluded in the list of
significant Australian minis-
ters noted in the Australian
lectionary was foiled by a
technicality requiring action
by General Synod, but it is
indicative of the high regard
in which Nancy was held
right across the diocese
that the attempt was made.
Determined to find a way
to honor Nancys contribu-
tion to the life of the Aus-
tralian Church through her
ministry in Gippsland,
Bishop-in-Council has rec-
ommended an inclusion in
our own Diocesan Prayer
Cycle remembering with
thanks the ministry of the
deaconesses of the diocese
and, in particular, Nancys
life and ministry.
Others sadly missed in
parishes across the diocese
since their deaths over the
past year include, from
Churchill/Boolarra/Yinnar
parish, Betty Reid and Jean
Brick, a member of the first
congregation in Churchill
and a tireless worker aged
well into her 90s, especially
for missions; from Korum-
burra parish, long time
parishioners Eric and Doris
Billing; from Leongatha
parish, Dianne Appleyard, a
long term parish councillor
and lay reader who was re-
sponsible for the congrega-
tions at Meeniyan and
Dumbalk; and Nancy Em-
bleton, Gail Wisdom and
Madeline Graeley, who were
all very involved members
of the parish and its min-
istry teams; Joy Grimshaw,
a well-loved member of St
Marys Mirboo North, a gra-
cious and simple-hearted
lady of 94 years who confi-
dently faced death knowing
she was going home to
her Lord; Denis Gardener
from Bass/Phillip Island
parish; Norman Stuckey,
Ulla Rathjen, Ian Radford
and June Ross, all commit-
ted members of Rosedale
parish, both within the life
of the church and in the
wider community; from
Warragul parish, Elizabeth
Crighton, who had an active
interest in Cursillo and the
Rwandan partnership and
Norman Tolley, a parish-
ioner for more than 50
years and a former church-
warden of St Pauls; and
from Wonthaggi/Inverloch
parish, my old sparring
partner, Ted Rock, a pas-
sionate advocate for eco-
nomic justice for all, a
position steeped in his faith
and profoundly Christian
values. We acknowledge
their priceless contribution
to the life of our diocese
through faithful parish and
community ministries.
In conclusion I return to a
simple appeal to each and
every one of you, as we
look to future directions in
the life of our diocese, to be
open to the changes God is
working among us;
changes in ourselves as we
are transformed by Gods
grace into the fullness of
our humanity and changes
in the way in which we ex-
press our life as Gods peo-
ple in worship, ministry and
mission as Gods Spirit
takes us to new places.
Grace and peace be with
you all.
Bishop John McIntyre
Gippsland
RIGHT: Katie Peken, or-
dained priest at the end of
May and Jo White, newly
appointed priest-in-charge
in Yarram parish.
BELOW: Bruce Charles,
Beryl Brien and Deirdre
McLean, of Moe parish,
joined together with Jan Mi-
siurka, Helen Davis and
Heather Quake, of Newbor-
ough/Yallourn North parish,
to discuss the draft strate-
gic plan for the diocese,
during synod.
By Lauren Kitwood,
Chairman
THE GFS Kidsplus+ Net-
work in Gippsland exists to
serve individuals and
parishes. It has been the
only continuing diocesan
network offered in Gipps-
land over many years and
continues to minister in the
following ways.
Provision of an annual
camp for children and
youth. Support of parish
based GFS, Kidsplus+ and
other affiliated childrens
and youth groups (through
leader fellowship, resourc-
ing, newsletters and train-
ing). Sponsoring special
activity days and picnics for
diocesan partipation. Link
to wider diocesan, State,
National and world ministry
groups for support, pro-
grams, education, training
and to keep informed of
current ministry trends.
It has been a more per-
sonal conduit of information
regarding changing recom-
mendations and require-
ments for those considering
leadership. It provides fel-
lowship, nurturing and fo-
rums for discussion through
the Adult Friends Fellow-
ship.
KidsPlus+ Gippsland has
had a very productive year.
We have a number of adult
members registered again
this year and parishes have
affiliated with us. Many of
our adult members are ac-
tive leaders in their own
parishes in children and
youth ministries. KidsPlus+
affiliations help offer sup-
port and encouragement to
all those connected with our
ministry, including leader-
ship training, resources
(equipment, programs) and
information on upcoming
events.
We aim to outreach to as
many parishes as we can;
that is where our affiliations
are vital, to offer informa-
tion to parishes. Each year,
we hope and pray more
parishes will connect; this
will help us broaden our re-
sources so we can all con-
nect as one ministry. We
are all aiming for the same
thing and provide ministry
to all ages; if we can share
ideas, imagine how much
more we can all do.
Money we receive for affil-
iations is used to purchase
new equipment for the
trailer, for parishes to use.
Our adult friends group
meets three to four times
each year; most recently in
Mirador Springs (Trafalgar),
a beautiful cottage with a
secret garden, lake and
farm animals. Lots of fun,
fellowship and a beautiful
afternoon tea was had by
all who attended.
This fellowship group is a
wonderful way to connect
with one another, one of the
only chances many of us
have to see one another.
Each year we have our
Thanksgiving lunch/dinner.
This year we held the serv-
ice at St Lukes Moe, fol-
lowed by lunch at Old
Gippstown Moe.
It was a great time of fel-
lowship together, followed
by lunch and an opportunity
to explore Old Gippstown.
This is certainly one of the
highlights for many of our
adult members. The Adult
Friends of GFS Kidsplus+
social worship and fellow-
ship events, along with the
regular Prayer Diaries pro-
duced through Melbourne,
give us a good support base
and an opportunity to out-
reach at a more senior
level. These are distributed
throughout the diocese so
all members can assess
them.
Our activity trailer has
been well utilised by
parishes throughout Gipps-
land. In the past year we
have purchased more
equipment for the trailer.
We aim to provide equip-
ment that is suitable for all
ages and abilities. We find
this is a vital ministry we
offer; it allows KidsPlus+ to
connect with parishes and
for parishes connect with
our network.
The more we can share
with parishes, the more
productive and supportive
we can be for one another.
This year, our activity trailer
has been used in many of
our parishes for a number
of different events including
holiday programs, commu-
nity carols, Australia Day
activities, parish camps,
fetes and special group pro-
gram nights.
On AFL Grand Final day
last year, 20 leaders and
young people headed to
Blackburn North to cele-
brate 50 years of GFS in
Melbourne, Ballarat and
Bendigo. Our trailer was
also used for the event,
showing it is well used with
all connections. The GFS
Wold President, Glenys
Payne, attended the event
as part of her very busy trip
around Australia. It was
wonderful to share the
greater world of GFS with
some of our younger mem-
bers.
The location of our annual
picnic was changed last
year. The decision was
made because of declining
numbers attending
Cowwarr Weir in the past
few years. After a success-
ful family day at the Mor-
well traffic school, we
decided to use this venue
as our end of year picnic.
The decision to change lo-
cation was not an easy de-
cision although one that
really did make a differ-
ence.
We had all ages attend
and a very successful picnic
with more than 70 children
and adults attending, in-
cluding representatives
from other diocesan
groups, Sunday schools and
Thorpdales mainly music
program.
We are very thankful our
decision for change was in
the right direction and we
were able to connect with
new families and minister
to existing members.
We have just experienced
camping at Coonawarra
Farm Resort (near Strat-
ford). It is one of the high-
lights for our young people
and leaders each year.
Much work, planning and
preparation goes into our
camp each year. We are
very fortunate to have a
good team of leaders to
help plan our events. Many
attend to help and support
the children and young
people, even those who do
not have childrens min-
istries in their own
parishes.
We again appreciate the
subsidy for specialist activ-
ities and bus hire received
from Melbourne CEBS
Small Grants for Childrens
and Youth ministry.
In April, we hosted GFS
state day, at Old Gipp-
stown, Moe. Members from
all over Victoria attended
the event, which is held in
a different diocese each
year. This meeting allows
many of us to make deci-
sions as a state, reconnect
together and discuss what
different dioceses are doing
within their ministries.
We decided to include our
young people in the event,
to join them into the wider
GFS family. A wonderful
day was had by all in the
beautiful surrounds of Old
Gippstown.
We were all saddened by
the passing of Ian Radford.
Our prayers and sympathy
continue to be extended to
the Radford family on the
recent death of Ian: father
to Stanley, Jeanette and
Leah, husband to Jenny.
The family have had long
associations with our Net-
work.
Many of us are looking for-
ward to the GFS midterm
conference in June, provid-
ing another opportunity to
share ideas and connect
with the wider Australia
GFS family. We, again, are
excited about being able to
take some younger mem-
bers of GFS with us so they
can also begin to connect
and become more excited
about the GFS family and
what it has to offer them.
Ministry in our parish Kid-
splus+, GFS and affiliated
groups is indeed varied to
meet the needs of the local
communities; however the
opportunity to share and
develop our ministry
through the network is in-
valuable and we encourage
others to be part of that. It
is exciting to see younger
members from our GFS and
Kidsplus+ groups looking
forwards and, in some
cases, taking up leadership
responsibilities in the
parishes.
Lauren Kitwood
Kidsplus+ fun in Gippsland
ABOVE: Natalee, of Sale,
tries out the senior flying
fox, at Coonwarra camp re-
cently.
RIGHT: Melinda, of Traral-
gon, tries her hand at
archery at Coonawarra.
FRONT page: Enjoying
paddling the canoe was
Achol (10) from Moe.
Photos: Mary Nicholls
12 Our Diocese - Gippslands Synod June 2013
AT Gippslands Synod,
Lauren Kitwood, chairman
of Kidsplus+ Network in
this diocese, mentioned the
annual camp. The report of
Kidsplus2013 camp follows.
The Gippsland diocesan
Kidsplus+ camp, held in
early May, will be remem-
bered as a highlight for the
year by many of the 37 par-
ticipants. Our leadership
team commended the chil-
dren and youth for their
friendly, co-operative and
enthusiastic spirits.
The Coonawarra campsite
was an excellent facility,
catering for our wide age
range of participants , chal-
lenging each individual to
atempt physical, mental
and team activities. All pro-
vided activities were
greeted with enthusiasm,
including the ropes courses,
flying fox, horse and pony
rides, high swing, canoeing,
giant games, volleyball, hut
building, photograph trail,
craft, campfire, games and
discussions on our theme,
Whos behind the Door.
Here we explored the need
of looking beyond the obvi-
ous, challenging one an-
other to explore our faith,
seeking to know God better,
so that life might be
opened to us. Our young
campers decided that such
exploration might involve
their commitment to mak-
ing themselves available to
God; through going to
church, acknowledging him
with thanks and worship,
meeting with others, at
church groups, religious ed-
ucation in schools, learning
with families, reading the
bible and obeying him in
caring for others and his
world; and praying for his
help in doing all this.
Recognising that, as our
creator, saviour and being
almighty, we have lots to
look forward to. Readers of
this article may well be
urged to continue their
prayerful support of these
young people, their friends
and families, that their
dreams may be realised.
The Kidsplus+ team are
already planning the loca-
tion and date of the 2014
diocesan camp. Sugges-
tions and expressions of in-
terest for leadership for this
event are welcome. The
major participation resulted
from personal invitations to
children and teenagers
from youth leaders; church
parishioners with the best
invitations being those
where the leader has been
able to say, Come along
with me.
In celebrating our wonder-
ful weekend we acknowl-
edge the generous
sponsorship received from
Gippsland Water, Latrobe
Shire, Hungry Jacks (sam-
ple bag materials), South-
ern Rural Water, Stocklands
Traralgon, Yarragon Bakery,
Life FM, Melbourne Cebs
The Anglican Boys Society
(for a grant toward special-
ist activities at the camp
and bus hire). The May and
Dennis Buxton Memorial
Fund, Graham Budd,
Matthew Prosser and The
Gippsland Anglican (Editor
Jeanette Severs) for help-
ing sponsor participants or
by promoting this ministry
to the wider diocese.
Thanks also to our special-
ist water safety leader,
Lydia Jacka, Dean Prosser,
our sponsorship convenor
and to all the team from the
GFS Kidsplus+ Network.
Contributor: Mary Nicholls
ABOVE: Participants and
leaders at the camp were
(front row) Cloe and Ari
Price, MaryAnne Om,
Chelsea Zekic, Amalie
Nicholls, Lia Penrose, Abouk
Majik, Noah Jankovic, Is-
abella Jankovic, Noah
Nicholls, Charlie Robins,
Lydia Jacka, Cooper Purcell,
Stanley Radford; (second
row) Achol Majik, Helen
Bayes, Sophie Robinson,
Natalee Johnstone, Paul
Byl, Dana Jankovic, Ayen
Riak, Vanessa Jankovic,
Courtney Havis, Melinda
Wass, Jackson, Bailey and
Catherine Purcell, Jacob
Robins, Lauren Kitwood;
(back row) Kathryn
Bartlett, Dean Prosser, Wil-
low Buglar, Cameron
Nicholls, Jenny Toma, Gary
Prosser, Nicholas Cunning-
ham, Rachel Akon (hidden)
and Mary Nicholls.
By Jane Anderson,
Regional Director,
Gippsland
THE past year has been
one of opportunity and
change for Anglicare Victo-
ria. The increased aware-
ness of areas within
Gippsland with high com-
plex needs has resulted in
increased government pro-
grams and funding and suc-
cessful parish partnership
activities.
There is significant policy
intent within the commu-
nity sector to ensure pro-
grams respond to individual
needs and the increasing
expectation to be flexible
and creative in that re-
sponse is welcomed. This
response is influenced by
the innovative practice
within parish partnerships.
Due to the growth in pro-
grams, the new Family
Services support structure
in Gippsland was imple-
mented with the appoint-
ment of Senior Services
Manager Family Services,
Tim Pedlow. This included
the successful appoint-
ments of Program Manager
Family Services, Josie
Stubbes and Program Man-
ager Family Support, An-
drew Cawood.
These new positions were
created to improve out-
comes for clients, improve
capacity for risk manage-
ment and quality improve-
ment through greater
leadership.
The new Cradle to Kinder
(C2K) program was suc-
cessfully set up in the Mor-
well office. The program is
a new ante and post natal
support service providing
intensive family and early
parenting support to vul-
nerable young mothers and
their children. Support for
young parents and their
family commences at preg-
nancy and continues until
the child reaches four years
of age.
The team has a vast array
of experience in different
areas and these experi-
ences will complement each
other, for the benefit of
families. C2K is a provided
through a partnership of
services, including Angli-
care Victoria as the lead
agency, Queen Elizabeth
Centre and Quantum Sup-
port Services.
Anglicare Victoria received
advice from the Depart-
ment of Justice (DOJ) that
its application to continue
to deliver the Victims Assis-
tance and Counselling Pro-
gram in the Gippsland
region was unsuccessful.
There was positive feed-
back from DOJ regarding
Hands up for fun
ABOVE: Barbara and Bevil Lunson were representing Or-
bost parish at synod. Orbost has an active youth ministry.
Anglicare focus is
on parent and child
in its synod report
continued next page
from previous page
the huge amount of effort
undertaken by the VAP
team, led by the program
manager, instigating signif-
icant changes in relation to
intake systems, data accu-
racy and brokerage ex-
pense directed at
re-orientating the program
to more closely match the
requirements of the De-
partment.
Staff within the Victims
Assistance and Counselling
Program (VACP) continued
to maintain a clear client
focus as they effected the
closure and transition of the
program by June 30 last
year.
The Settlement program
was unsuccessful in its ap-
plication for further funding
in the Central Gippsland
area. Although unsuccess-
ful, it is clear from the feed-
back obtained the program
has been viewed very posi-
tively by DIAC, which (on a
State level) was supportive
of funding continuing. The
program met or exceeded
all the agreed targets and
had developed positive
working relationships with
many service providers and
the community it was work-
ing with.
Positive news was re-
ceived with respect to a
submission for Community
for Children funding in East
Gippsland. The submission
was successful in securing
funds for two years, to-
talling $120,000.
In April 2012, the Regional
Manager, Program Manager
and CEO received a con-
gratulations email from the
DHS Manager Child Youth
and Family acknowledging
the extraordinary perform-
ance of the foster care pro-
gram in achieving a year to
date performance of 95 per
cent.
Parentzone began ses-
sions at an Aboriginal Par-
ent Group coordinated by
Ramahyuck District Aborig-
inal Corporation in Drouin.
This is the first time Parent-
zone has been invited to
provide our service to Abo-
riginal parents in Baw Baw.
Group Coordinator, Kellie
Sexton, has emailed to say
how grateful they are to
have a Parentzone worker
attend sessions. Kellie said
the Warragul Parentzone
worker is a natural commu-
nicator with a great deal of
experience and knowledge
and she had an instant con-
nection with the partici-
pants.
Inner Gippsland has been
chosen by the DHS as a
new site for Stronger Fami-
lies and Aboriginal Stronger
Families. Stronger Families
is a progression of the Fam-
ily Coaching Victoria pilots
that were introduced as an
integrated placement pre-
vention and family reunifi-
cation service providing
intensive case work support
to vulnerable families as
well as specialist youth,
therapeutic and early par-
enting support.
As Anglicare Victoria is the
Families First provider in
Gippsland, we have been
invited through submission
to lead the development for
the new mainstream serv-
ice. Ramahyuck has been
concurrently invited to pro-
vide the Aboriginal Stronger
Families service in Inner
Gippsland. We are currently
exploring how these two
services will interrelate.
The Gippsland Manage-
ment Team recently at-
tended a two day session to
develop a Gippsland plan to
implement the Anglicare
Victoria strategic plan. The
team developed the follow-
ing three strategic inten-
tions, to form the basis of
the Gippsland actions:
The needs of our clients
determine how our pro-
grams integrate and work
together; we work with our
people to create an envi-
ronment that empowers
them to achieve their best;
and we work together to
creatively respond to
change in our community.
Chairmans awards
THE Anglicare Victoria
Chairmans Awards were
held on September 12 last
year and there were a num-
ber of nominees from Gipp-
sland with winners in the
Innovation and Outstanding
Volunteer Categories.
Parentzone Gippsland won
the Innovation award, for
the parenting activity con-
ducted with Orbost Re-
gional Health Service in
conjunction with the Early
Years Aboriginal Health
Worker and women from
the Orbost Koori Mums and
Bubs Group. The activity
involved making a Family
Book with mothers who are
Aboriginal or mothers of
Aboriginal children.
This activity has increased
Parentzones engagement
in this Aboriginal commu-
nity and resulted in a num-
ber of parents from
Aboriginal families having
contact with the Parentzone
mainstream service and be-
coming more familiar with
the services provided by
Parentzone and staff mem-
bers. The parents have now
requested Parentzone pro-
vide parenting programs fo-
cused on parent education
content.
Naomi Murphy (right) won
the Outstanding Volunteer
award. During the year,
Naomi began as a commu-
nity volunteer with Kom-
mall, a gathering place for
the Koori community in the
Latrobe area. Naomi is a
member of the local com-
munity who brought for-
ward ideas and enthusiasm
to support the needs of
local Indigenous children.
From the outset, she pro-
vided critical energy for the
community to rally around
a number of important cul-
tural activities. Naomi is
one of the first community
volunteers to maintain an
ongoing involvement with
the Kommall project and
has joined in meetings of
the Kommall Advisory
Group.
Work was undertaken in
conjunction with Latrobe
City, the Centre for Multi-
cultural Youth and Latrobe
Regional Gallery to run an
exhibition of art by mem-
bers of the refugee and
CALD community as part of
Refugee Week, June 17 to
23. The event was a huge
success, with about 80
community members gath-
ering at the Regional
Gallery to view art by stu-
dents from local primary
schools and enjoy singing
by students from Traral-
gons Liddiard Road primary
school.
In the Settlement pro-
gram, 15 people attended a
How to get Glasses Day in
May, held at Latrobe Com-
munity Health Services and
hosted by Anglicare; offer-
ing a number of ways to
provide affordable eye wear
to children and adults. The
settlement program was
able to facilitate affordable
eye care services to five in-
dividual clients, who are
now enjoying their glasses.
The Clothesline Project
was a significant event in
October, increasing aware-
ness of family violence in
the community. An exten-
sive display at a local shop-
ping centre included t-shirts
painted by local survivors of
family violence, as well as
relevant service information
from Anglicare and Quan-
tum Support Services.
In launching the project,
Gippsland Community Legal
Service Community Lawyer,
Jessica McCartney, gave a
very informative speech;
and an article in a local
newspaper brought atten-
tion to the devastating im-
pact of family violence,
both locally and generally,
as well as the services pro-
vided by GCLS and Quan-
tum. The photograph from
the launch (left) was
reprinted in the lead-up to
White Ribbon Day on No-
vember 25.
Parish community
development
THIS year has been a
good year for parish part-
nerships. The Parish Part-
nerships steering
committee has provided
grants to parishes of Won-
thaggi, Heyfield, Korum-
burra and Maffra, to help
support their communities.
It is exciting to see the
many varied and exciting
ideas parishes are utilising,
including strategies to em-
power young people, com-
munity drop-in centres,
community meals pro-
grams, after school clubs,
preschool music programs,
community Christmas par-
ties, community dinners
and No Interest Loans
Schemes.
A decline in grant applica-
tions has been experienced
and this possibly indicates
there are challenges other
than just money preventing
parishes developing com-
munity projects. The Com-
munity Development
Officer will be working to in-
vestigate and address this
in 2013/2014.
mainly music continues to
be used by a number of
parishes, with an average
of more than 150 families
attending weekly preschool
music programs in the dio-
cese. mainly music has
been a valuable means of
strengthening relationships
between the community
and the church.
A number of these
parishes have expanded
their program to include
parenting programs, play-
groups, community days
and family support pro-
grams. The groups have
been supported with a
small FaHCSIA grant that
will enable the mainly
ABOVE: Anglicare Victoria Gippsland Community Legal Service Intake Coordina-
tor, Letitia Naidu, team member, Irfan Yusuf, and lawyer, Jess McCartney, with
the clothesline project. See Anglicares report to synod for details.
Photo: Latrobe Valley Express
Local clothesline project depicts
impacts of domestic violence
continued next page
By Don Saines,
Cathedral Dean
REPORT to synod 2013
from St Pauls Cathedral.
Mission 2012
IT IS a less than 18
months since we began our
mission project, MISSION
2012, the beginning of a
three year project to trial
ministries to help young
people and families connect
with the church and its
gospel.
This project was achieved
with financial support from
the Diocese ($42,000 each
year for three years) and
Bush Church Aid Society
($25,000 each year for
three years). Funds were
also raised within the
Cathedral parish ($16,165
in 2012 with equivalent
amounts promised for the
next three years).
This funding enabled em-
ployment of Rich Lanham.
Rich and Julie Lanham have
now been part of our
Cathedral and diocesan
ministry team for this pe-
riod. The ground work has
been undertaken with ef-
forts to:
Develop and nurture the
faith and leadership of a
core of young family lead-
ers and youth.
Develop the Cathedrals
connection to ministry in
local schools and especially
Gippsland Grammar.
Develop the Cathedrals
connection to young people
and families in the town
more generally.
Be a resource for Youth
and Family ministry in the
diocese.
The Youth Hut has been
refurbished, with thanks for
donations of $2000 from
the Friends of St Pauls
Cathedral, the generous
support of a number of
young people and business
people in Sale and two BCA
Nomads, Barry and Pat
Schmidt from Brisbane,
(above) who saw our need
in the BCA newsletter and
arrived to help paint the
outside of the youth hut in
the heat of March this year.
Ministry team
MINISTRY at the Cathedral
continues to run smoothly,
thanks to the team of able
and committed members.
During 2012 we also were
blessed to have Reverend
Caroline Nancarrow with us
and paid her a small
monthly fee for service,
though Caroline put more
pastoral and sacramental
ministry into the parish
than this suggested.
Rev. Lloyd George took
leave from the Cathedral in
2012 to minister at Golden
Grove Healing Centre in
Sydney. Lloyd and Judy re-
turned this past Easter.
We are thankful to the
Cathedral lay readers (Mike
Chadwick, Marion Jones,
Brian Norris) and honorary
deacons (Dr Pene Brook
and Jonathan Taylor) for
their very willing and sup-
portive ministry.
We are also thankful for
the many lay ministers who
put their hands up to help:
Christine Morris and Ro
Verspaadonk (Sunday
club); Karen Taylor and the
team who run mainly
music; Jan Lear and team
who run Tadpoles play-
group; Julie Irving, treas-
urer, Colin Irving,
fundraising and helping
hand; Helen Gardiner as
Verger and general assis-
tance; office volunteers, es-
pecially Mark Butler who is
also Chapter Clerk in 2013;
Grant and Michelle Wool-
cock for vacuuming and
Grant and others for lead-
ing the St Pauls mens
breakfast group; pastoral
ministry teams led by Mar-
ion Jones, Heather Stewart
andHelen Gardiner.
There are many others
who assist as sacristans,
cleaners, welcomers, read-
ers, morning refreshments
and so on. I am especially
thankful for the lay canons:
Ann Miller (retired 2012),
Josef Sestokas (2013),
Arthur McPherson and Pam
Schmack.
Cathedral worship
WE continue our Anglican
liturgical worship, both tra-
ditional and contemporary
liturgies, particularly in the
Sunday evening services.
Average attendance dur-
ing 2012 at St Pauls Cathe-
dral services remains at a
weekly average more than
120 people. We currently
have an average of 190
worshippers who attend at
least once a month across
all centres including mid-
week services and nursing
homes..
Christian formation
HOME and other study
groups have continued to
be a source of Christian for-
mation. This includes KYB
groups and one Education
for Ministry group of eight
people, which is now into its
third year and mentored by
the Dean and Rev. Heather
Toms. Groups are also held
weekly with Kate Campbell
and Rich and Julie Lanham
(Christianity explored). The
Dean also ran a group
called Embracing Adult
Faith.
Cathedral events
NUMEROUS diocesan and
parish community events
were held at the Cathedral
in the past year and the fol-
lowing are some of the
highlights: the Cathedral
fair, October 20; commis-
sioning of the Rwanda team
from Gippsland Grammar
and St Pauls Grammar
schools; teaching day with
Rev. Dr Dorothy Lee from
Trinity College on Reading
the Bible (above right); or-
dination of four deacons,
November 17 and priests,
May 25; St Pauls mens
breakfast group evening
and dinner with Dr Chris
Laming; Third Sunday Fo-
rums with speakers, includ-
ing Gippsland Grammar
principal, David Baker and
diocesan Bushfire Commu-
nity Worker, David Wilcox;
Lady Day celebration and
Mothers Union gathering,
March 26; Easter art show,
March 27 to April 5; the
Anam Cara School for
Prayer, April 6; annual
meeting of the Friends of
the Cathedral.
We are thankful to the
Friends of St Pauls Cathe-
dral who attended the AGM.
Each year the Friends do-
nates funds toward the
Cathedrals upkeep and
ministry. This year they
voted to give $1000 to help
defray the cost of electric
lighting, with the purchase
of LED lights for Delbridge
Hall.
Financial Report
FINANCIALLY, the Cathe-
dral parish is in a sound po-
sition, though Chapter has
recognised the need to give
some attention to financial
stewardship, as funding be-
came tight in early 2013.
The month of April was
given over to reflecting
about our giving to parish
and other mission. We
thank Julie Irving, our
treasurer.
Resignation
I TENDERED my resigna-
tion as Dean of St Pauls
Cathedral and as rector of
Sale parish to the Bishop,
effective from the end of
June this year.
I will miss my ministry as
Dean of St Pauls Sale and
priest to the Cathedral
parish and my collegial
ministry with Bishop John
and colleagues, lay and or-
dained across Gippsland
diocese. These past three
years have, indeed, been a
most happy and rewarding
experience.
I will finish my time at St
Pauls Cathedral parish at
the end of May. I am most
grateful for the people of
the Cathedral parish and
thank God for them daily.
from previous page
music volunteers to attend
the annual mainly music
conference.
The Community Develop-
ment Officer has also been
working with the broader
Anglican community, in-
cluding Gippsland Gram-
mar, St Pauls Grammar and
the chaplain at Fulham
prison. This work has led to
a schoolies alternative trip
to Gahini, homeless experi-
ence programs for year
nine students and a parent-
ing program for prisoners.
Through the trips to Gahini,
the Community Develop-
ment Officer has also been
able to work with parishes
to help strengthen their re-
lationships with their link
parishes.
Four parenting programs,
each of six weeks duration,
have been sucessfully deliv-
ered in Fulham prison. Av-
erage attendances of eight
participants and evidence
of positive outcomes from
this program have been en-
couraging. One participant
suggested to his partner
that she might enjoy doing
a parenting course; so she
contacted Anglicare in Mor-
well and enrolled in a par-
enting course available to
members of the commu-
nity.
The two parents were then
able to discuss the course
material together. When
the prisoner was released
they had developed a com-
mon understanding and
goals for their parenting.
A partnership agreement
between Fulham prison,
Anglicare ParentZone, the
Anglican prison chaplain
program and communtiy
development has been es-
tablished to provide four,
six week courses annually
inside Fulham prison.
The Community Develop-
ment Officer spent two
weeks in March working
with Anglican Board of Mis-
sions and Uniting One
World to deliver a series of
five conferences for years
nine to 12 students in Syd-
ney, Brisbane, Perth, Ade-
laide and Melbourne.
The conferences high-
lighted the progress made
on the world millennium
development goals and fa-
cilitated discussions about
what comprise good com-
munity development.
ABOVE: Representing Sale parish at Gippslands synod were Pene Brook, Josef
Sestokas, Pam Schmack, Julie Irving, Don Saines and Julie Lanham.
Mission to all
at Cathedral
THE President of Mothers
Union Gippsland, Karin
McKenzie (right), com-
mended Jeanette Severs for
her ongoing, committed
coverage of MU in The
Gippsland Anglican; a cov-
erage which is remarkable
for Anglican dioceses, Karin
said, presenting the annual
MU report to Synod.
In Karins report, high-
lights of MU Gippsland were
many. This year, MU Gipps-
land supported Kairos In-
side, a ministry at Fulham
prison, by sponsoring a
leader to Kairos 14, praying
during the retreat and writ-
ing notes of encouragement
to participants. Kairos lead-
ers will speak at June Join-
in this year, on June 12 at
Newborough.
David Spitteler, from the
Asylum Seekers Centre at
Dandenong, spoke at last
years June Join-in (at Mor-
well), about assisting on-
shore applicants for refugee
status with material aid and
referrals to other agencies.
The collection of food he re-
ceived at the Morwell gath-
ering was distributed the
very next day.
Dr Michael Carr-Greggs
presentation at the MU
Family Forum in October
was supported by more
than 200 people and the
feedback was all good. The
partnership with St Pauls
Anglican Grammar School
was much appreciated, as
was sponsorship from the
diocese and others.
The theme of MU Gipps-
land this year is Bringing
our gifts to vision 20/20.
Wendy Mayer, MU Australia
Education Coordinator,
spoke at Lady Day celebra-
tions at Sale about using
our gifts and talents for
God. An extensive report
can be found in the April
edition of The Gippsland
Anglican.
MU Gippsland members
support the Overseas and
Northern Outreach MU Fund
and allocations in 2013
within Northern Australia
are: $12,000 to enable
clergy and church workers
to attend the second yearly
conference in Perth; $2000
to support travelling ex-
penses for the Bishops
wife, Christine Nelson, to
visit clergy wives and fami-
lies.
In the Northern Territory
diocese, $10,000 will en-
sure regular support and
training is offered to all
clergy in remote communi-
ties by ministry develop-
ment officers and
archdeacons; $3675 will
assist translating parts of
the prayer book into Kriol,
to assist Indigenous clergy;
$10,000 to help Indigenous
women receive resource
books and attend transla-
tion classes and pre-school
music education programs
in Geraldton and the
womens seminar for the
Broome and Kimberley re-
gions; $10,000 to enable
MU executive members to
attend conferences and
meetings in North Queens-
land.
The MU Australia overseas
project for 2013, which MU
Gippsland supports, is Lit-
eracy in Ethiopia. This pro-
gram will empower women
by equipping them with
basic literacy and numeracy
skills. Gender barriers,
poverty and ignorance will
be focal points, too, in the
hope conditions in the
home and society as a
whole will improve.
MU Gippsland members
supported those people im-
pacted by the fires last
summer with pamper
packs.
The MU family retreat will
be held again in September.
Three families were invited
to the abbey last year and
the Langshaw family hosted
the retreat. The cost was
$1575 and this was do-
nated by MU members in
Gippsland.
Parish by parish
COWES branch made spe-
cial baptismal cards and a
MU member will attend
each baptism service and
present the card to the par-
ents. Sprays and simnel
cake were made for Moth-
ers Day.
Drouin branch heard from
Anne Connelly, sharing a
film about an English coun-
try garden; and Heather
Toms, speaking about her
work as a prison chaplain.
ABOVE: Bev Littlejohn,
Beryl Brien and Jan Misi-
urka, at Gippslands synod
in May.
ABOVE left: Karin McKen-
zie, president of Mothers
Union Gippsland, presented
MUs annual report to
synod.
RIGHT: Tom Killingbeck and
Lyndon Phillips, spiritual di-
rectors for Cursillo, at
synod. Lyndon also pre-
sented the Cursillo report
to synod.
By Lyndon Phillips
AT Synod 2012, it was ex-
pected two Cursillos would
be held during 2012. Unfor-
tunately, I must advise
that, due to a lack of candi-
dates for the Mens Cursillo,
the secretariat determined
to cancel the weekend.
Secretariat was apprecia-
tive of the teams commit-
ment to re-schedule Mens
Cursillo to April 4 to 7.
Again, it was cancelled
due to the limited number
of candidates, lack of a sec-
ond spiritual advisor and
unavailability of some team
members. There are no
plans for Cursillo weekends
to be held during the 2013
calendar year.
During the past 12
months, Ultreyas were held
at Traralgon and Drouin. At
the Ultreya held in April at
St James, Traralgon, we
farewelled Liz Hall who has
filled the role of lay co-di-
rector and secretary of Cur-
sillo, Gippsland for the past
five years. Jeff Richardson
and Amy Turner were de-
commissioned from their
roles of spiritual directors of
Cursillo, Gippsland.
We thank each of these
people for their willing and
committed service to the
Cursillo Movement in Gipp-
sland.
Jennifer Merriel was com-
missioned into the role of
lay co-director and secre-
tary with Tom Killingbeck
and Lyndon Phillips com-
missioned into the role of
spiritual advisors.
Unfortunately, due to a
change in leadership and
also a mis-communication
regarding dates, Anglican
Cursillo, Gippsland was not
in attendance at the Na-
tional Gathering which was
held in Perth, West Aus-
tralia. The main focus of the
National Gathering was the
need to re-address the fun-
damentals of Cursillo, in-
cluding developing new
visions for Cursillo in Aus-
tralia.
Communication with
parish co-ordinators re-
mains an ongoing issue, as
is recruiting people to serve
as members of the servant
community and on secre-
tariat. We are thankful to
Lindsay McKay and Jennifer
Merriel for their willingness
to serve by taking on the
shared role of lay co-direc-
tor; and Tom Killingbeck
and Lyndon Philips for their
willingness to serve as spir-
itual directors.
This year, Julie Bruce has
continued in the role of
treasurer. We continue to
seek people to take on roles
on secretariat and servant
community, as many mem-
bers are filling multiple
roles.
Secretariat is keen to fill
the role of ARCO publisher;
due to health concerns, Bob
Tutty is finding it difficult to
fulfil this role; we thank
Bob for his diligence in fill-
ing this onerous task. ARCO
is emailed, with the distri-
bution of hard copies being
the responsibility of parish
coordinators.
It should be noted that
Cowwarr, the youth version
of Cursillo in Gippsland, re-
mains in recess. It is hoped
this will be revived in the
near future.
We appeal for people in-
terested in serving as part
of a servant community, to
come forward and support
Cursillo with their gifts and
skills.
Cursillo and Ultreyas
Speaker encourages people to bring their gifts and skills to serve
MU members
serve with
grace and faith
continued next page
158/13 Bishop-in-Council
report:
Resolved that this synod re-
ceives the report of the
Bishop-in-Council covering
the work of the council
since the last session of
synod.
Proposed Action: No action
required.
159/13 2011/12 Annual Ac-
counts of the diocese:
Resolved that this synod
adopts the diocesan ac-
counts for the year
2011/12.
Proposed Action: No action
required.
160/13 2013/14 Diocesan
budget:
Resolved that the diocesan
budget for 2013/14 be
adopted.
Proposed Action: Bishop-in-
Council to implement the
budget.
161/13 BIC/5 Resolution
155/12 overseas and
Aboriginal missions:
That in response to synod
resolution 155/12, this
synod accepts the advice of
Bishop-in-Council that:
It is not appropriate to put
Aboriginal ministry support
together with support for
overseas missions noting
that the diocese has made
considerable financial con-
tributions to aboriginal min-
istry in the diocese from the
diocesan budget.
In relation to overseas mis-
sions the view is expressed
that:
It is not a function of the
diocese to contribute to
overseas missions as it is a
central service organisation
supporting parish ministry
and that it is the role of
parishes to support mis-
sions;
If the diocese was to in-
clude an item in the budget
for this purpose then parish
contributions would need to
increase as a consequence.
162/13 The abbey:
The synod welcomes the
significant progress of the
abbey made in the previous
12 months towards the im-
plementation of the dioce-
san vision for ABeckett
Park:
Encourages the work of the
chapter, recognises the
contribution of the abbey
parish of Paynesville.
Commends the abbey as a
key component and expres-
sion of the diocesan strat-
egy and recognises its
contribution to the diocesan
call to explore different
ways of being church.
Encourages individuals and
churches to make their con-
tribution to this diocesan
mission through: friends,
volunteers, participation in
the abbey program, use of
the site, overnight stays.
Notes with pleasure that
the planning permit has
been issued by the East
Gippsland Shire and ea-
gerly anticipates the pro-
posal for next stage
developments at the site to
grasp the opportunity for
mission afforded by the
original vision.
Council to continue to take
the matter forward to-
gether with the abbey
chapter. Parishes have been
advised through synod
members.
163/13 Bishops presiden-
tial address:
Mrs Val Jones moved that
the Bishop be thanked for
his Presidential Address to
Synod.
Proposed Action: The
Bishop has noted the mo-
tion.
164/13 The strategic plan:
That this synod notes
progress and commends
the direction being taken
towards the implementa-
tion of a strategic plan for
2013-18 and encourages
the bishop to implement
the plan by 1 July, 2013.
Proposed Action: The
bishop to take the matter
forward.
165/13 Solar power:
Resolved that this synod re-
quests Bishop-in-Council to
appoint a working party to
assist parish councils inter-
ested in installing solar
power with a view to pro-
viding a project specifica-
tion for each parish.
Council to appoint a work-
ing party.
166/13 Social media guide-
lines:
Resolved that this synod:
(a) requests Bishop in
Council to prepare, as a
matter of priority, a set of
guidelines for the use of so-
cial media by parishioners
in leadership positions
within Parishes; and
(b) further requests
Bishop-in-Council to publish
such guidelines for the in-
formation of Anglicans
within the diocese as soon
as possible.
Council to arrange for the
preparation of guidelines.
167/13 Professional Stan-
dards:
Resolved that this synod:
Adopts the amended Power
and Trust protocol (2005);
and
Requests the Professional
Standards Committee, or
such other body as the
Bishop-in-Council may de-
termine, review the ques-
tionnaires set out on pages
40-44 and
Consult with parish coun-
cils, clergy and paid church
workers, then
Suggest a revised set of
questionnaires for adoption
by this synod; and
Recommend same to Gen-
eral Synod for adoption;
and
Adds the following words to
Section 3A.1 of the Power
and Trust Protocol as a final
sentence:
All safe ministry question-
naires, where there are
yes answers to any ques-
tion, be presented to the
Safe Ministry Administra-
tion Committee for consid-
eration before any final
decision on the appropri-
ateness of licensing of any
particular person be ap-
proved or denied.
Council to determine the
way forward.
168/13 Diocesan data to
assist parishes:
That the diocese circulates
an analysis of significant
trends in all its numeric
data in order to help each
parish understand its wider
context.
Council to clarify the scope
of this task.
169/13 Aboriginal ministry:
That this synod resolves to
ask Bishop-in-Council to es-
tablish a working group to
explore viable ways of en-
suring the ongoing financial
sustainability of Aboriginal
ministry into the long-term
future including the use of
or the sale of unused land.
170/13 Motion of Apprecia-
tion:
Resolved that this synod
expresses its appreciation
to:
[The various people and or-
ganisations involved in set-
ting up and running synod
were thanked. Letters were
subsequently written.]
from previous page
East Gippsland branch
held a service of holy com-
munion in the bush outside
Bruthen. At another meet-
ing, a policewoman spoke
about the Special Youth
Target Force.
Leongatha branch held a
well-attended lunch with
Sue Jacka as guest speaker
and a film night, showing
Fireproof, a story of
restoration within a domes-
tic relationship.
Several times a year, Maf-
fra branch serves afternoon
tea at the local aged-care
facility and their Christmas
fair raises funds for their
parish, selling Christmas
cakes and puddings, craft
and sundry goods.
Moe branch uses St
Patricks day as their main
fundraiser. Cleaning brass
and supporting all parish
activities is their regular
focus.
Morwell branch members
enjoy fellowship through
church catering, visiting at
the nursing home, flower
arranging and working
bees. Baptismal folders and
books are given to the re-
cently baptised.
Newborough branch has
enjoyed studying the Faith-
ful Relationship theme,
learning how to recognise
and experience Gods faith-
ful presence. Members
hosted Elizabeth and heard
her story as a Sudanese
woman.
Warragul branch members
knit beanies and rugs for
Anglicare and the Youth for
Christ centre. They made
special laminated book-
marks with the names of
church families on them;
these are kept in bibles and
prayer notes as a reminder
to pray. A DVD sale raised
money for the MU family
retreat fund.
Wont haggi / I nver l och
branch sent a donation to
the Joyce Erbs Fund, in
memory of esteemed late
members, May Brooks,
Norma Johnston and Hazell
Catell. This fund gives
music scholarships to Gipp-
sland Grammar and St
Pauls Anglican Grammar
schools.
Members also help with
the weekly community
meal at their church, which
feeds more than 100 people
on some nights.
ABOVE: Fran Grimes, Wendy McBurnie and Tim Fletcher, at synod, held this year at St
Annes campus of Gippsland Grammar, in Sale.
The resolutions
passed at Synod
June 2013 Our Diocese - Commemorating 110 years of diocesan news 17
By Jeanette Severs
THE Church News changed
shape to a broadsheet with
the publication of the May
1942 issue. WL McSped-
den, rector of Drouin, was
the editor and assistant ed-
itor was WJB Clayden, rec-
tor of Bairnsdale.
This was the issue an-
nouncing the appointment
of Donald Burns Blackwood
as the third Bishop of Gipp-
sland and the close to
Bishop Cranswicks episco-
pate. Blackwood was a
chaplain in the Australian
Infantry Forces during
World War I and was
awarded the Military Cross.
He would have been a
good choice for a large rural
diocese such as Gippsland
with its history of military
service and the many cler-
gymen from the region who
served as armed services
chaplains in both wars.
Blackwood was a rector in
Hobart from 1924 until his
appointment as bishop of
Gippsland. He also had un-
derstanding and experience
of remote communities,
both in Tasmania and with
his daughter and her family
in Western Australia, his
war experience and his son
still enlisted.
In the February 1943
issue, a report on the 50th
anniversary of St Thomas
Toora contained recollec-
tions from Harry Alpin, 82,
a resident: I cut the scrub
from off the church block,
he said.
The January 1944 issue
listed McSpedden as editor
still, but JD Sansom, rector
of Leongatha, had become
assistant editor.
Of note was coverage of
Miss Constance Tisdalls
farewell from St Annes
after 10 years devoted
service as principal. Under
her guidance, St Annes has
not only become estab-
lished but has the reputa-
tion of being one of the best
girls schools in Victoria,
according to the newspaper
report.
The bishop endorsed these
words and announced Miss
Lorna Sparrow as her suc-
cessor. He also wrote there
would be three graduates of
the school on the teaching
staff and a kindergarten
leader at the start of the
year.
The summer of 1944 also
saw the first Gippsland
summer school for clergy
and teachers, held at St
Annes between Christmas
and New Year.
This summer was also a
bad one for bush fires over
two months and loss of life,
stock and property at Mor-
well, Rosedale, Yallourn,
Yarram and districts sur-
roundings Sale and Traral-
gon.
Bishop Blackwood wrote
about his own journey
through the fire affected re-
gions and encouraged
church people to serve on
the committees responsible
for allocating assistance, to
ensure that everyone was
treated equally and the
same assistance was given
to each person affected by
the fires, irrespective of cir-
cumstance.
Sister May, one of the
Deaconesses, was also ac-
tive in visiting and minister-
ing with people affected by
the fires.
The March 1944 issue in-
cluded news of the conse-
cration of Geoffrey F
Cranswick, in Westminster
Abbey, as Bishop of Tasma-
nia. He was the brother of
Gippslands second bishop,
George Harvard Cranswick,
now chairman of Australian
Board of Missions.
As Gippslanders came to
terms with the latest bush-
fires, there were still re-
ports of locals lost in war. In
Welshpool, Mr and Mrs
Thomas Truscott heard
their second son was lost in
an air battle over Germany,
one year after hearing their
youngest son was killed in
action in New Guinea. Both
young men were members,
from childhood, of St Pauls
Welshpool.
The April 1944 issue re-
ported Les Fletcher, of
Yarragon, a member of
Trafalgar parish, won a
scholarship for a course in
science at Melbourne Uni-
versity; the scholarship re-
sults from a recent bequest
by the late Davydd Lewis,
of the parish.
The September 1944 issue
led with a long article about
the role of women now and
in the post war world and
suggested the time for con-
sidering this was past.
However, the author (the
editor, AE Clark, of War-
ragul), unequivocally stated
the role of woman was in
the home; conceding that
recent years showed
women could also interest
themselves in numerous
spheres of usefulness and
influence, so long as it was
in voluntary roles, not paid
work.
Clark goes on to write that
physical work was not good
for women, not because
they could not do it but be-
cause physically they are
built for more taxing work:
the procreation of the
human race and therefore
they should care for their
bodies and not waste en-
ergy in other endeavors.
Of the women who do not
marry, he suggests they
can be most helpful where
they can retain the true
charm of womanhood
which he still believes is as
a Home Maker; when she
ceases to be this, then it
will be a sorry old world in
which to live.
[It is interesting to read
these actual words written
as beliefs in a reflective
sense in 2013; Editor.]
December 1944 saw the
consecration of St James
church at Orbost, described
as having a picturesque
setting near the Snowy
River. Of not is the tower,
erected to honor war serv-
ice of men in the district.
At synod 1945, Bishop
Blackwood, in his presi-
dents charge, wrote: The
hardest trial is the anti-reli-
gious and demoralising ef-
fects of a long war: the
perplexity and despair and
dissolute morals.
The time for a recall to
faith was of great need, he
felt. The spiritual decline
constitutes our challenge
today, he wrote.
He challenged the diocese
to build 30 small churches
in country centres across
Gippsland and larger cen-
tres in the large towns, to
provide a place that can
more easily be the gate of
heaven, a place for Sunday
schools, youth buildings
and sanctuaries. He also
cautioned that many recto-
ries in the diocese are not
worthy of our church.
He announced building a
kindergarten and prepara-
tory school would shortly
begin at Warragul, by Mr
and Mrs AJ Harris, in mem-
ory of their late daughter,
Elizabeth Dulcie Harris. It
was subsequently opened,
fully furnished by the Har-
riss, in May 1949.
This is a fine example.
The challenge of our day is
to go forward in the
churchs educational work,
to build a strong spiritual
foundation in the lives of
the oncoming generation.
He stated the buildings
needed to be supplemented
with consecrated men and
women to provide educa-
tion.
The November 1945 issue
of The Church News in-
cluded an advertisement for
St Annes Sale: the Council
of the school continued to
offer one full and two half
scholarships for entry each
year.
The newspapers of 1946
contained information
Blackwood one of Christs soldiers
Continuing our look back at Gippsland diocese: this month, the decade 1944 to 1953
ABOVE: Communion service, St Matthews Bruthen, 1944.
BELOW: Tarraville church, 1947.
Photos: Diocesan archive
ABOVE: Miss Lorna Sparrow.
continued next page
18 Our Diocese - Commemorating 110 years of diocesan news June 2013
from previous page
about the Christian Social
Order Movement and its
focus on welcoming sol-
diers, war workers and pris-
oners of war back to their
home parishes and how to
meet their spiritual needs.
The August 1946 issue
mentioned Reverend GW
Edwards, vicar of Bass, had
an accident which caused
him to lose one of his eyes.
In Sale parish, a memorial
to the late Archdeacon JH
Blundell was dedicated in
the Cathedral by Bishop
Blackwood. The memorial is
a blackwood sedilia, with
kneeling rail to match,
placed in the sanctuary for
the use of the clergy.
The September 1946 issue
of The Church News saw its
return to a much smaller
format and a different lay-
out. AE Clark was still the
editor. It contained the
news the bishop was ap-
pointing a committee to
arrange for observance of
the centenary, in 1947, of
the churchs ministrations
in Gippsland.
It will be in conjunction
with publication of Clarks
history of 100 years of
Church Life in Gippsland, a
work he had researched for
the past two years and due
for publication in April
1947.
The October 1946 news-
paper heralded a new gen-
eration in printing. The
front page was almost cov-
ered with a photograph of
Early Church Leaders:
Very Rev. Dean Vance, Ad-
ministrator Diocese of Mel-
bourne; Bishop Armstrong
of Wangaratta; Bishop Lan-
gley, Bendigo. Seated:
Bishop Payne, First Bishop
of Gippsland, 1902.
So began a focus on using
the front page to show a
lithograph or photograph of
interest.
Included in this issue was
a report of more than 50
Sunday school teachers
gathering at St Johns hall,
Yallourn, for a conference.
Bishop Blackwood opened
the conference and Miss BL
Glascodine, organiser of
Sunday schools in Mel-
bourne diocese, outlined
the aims and motives of
teaching and set the tone
for the conference atten-
dees.
The article stated the gen-
eral opinion the conference
should become an annual
event and so help develop
the work.
In other news, there was
an announcement the an-
nual summer school for ed-
ucators and teachers would
not be held in 1946/47 and
intending participants were
encouraged to attend the
deanery conference for fel-
lowship and instruction.
The November 1946 issue
began a new Childrens
Page, with Paula responsi-
ble for girls and Tim re-
sponsible for boys. They
were to be contacted
through Rev. Harvey
Brown, rector of Yallourn.
This issue also saw the ap-
pointment of a new editor,
JH Brown, who commended
his predecessor for steering
the newspaper through, in
particular, the war years.
The May 1947 issue saw a
report from Deaconess
Lucia Koska, from March, of
the diocesan youth organi-
sation. She wrote of her
visits to various parishes
and links with Mothers
Union, Ladies Guild and
clergy and donations to the
Mail Bag Sunday school.
She encouraged a focus on
providing a suitable vehicle
to reach the children in out-
lying areas.
On July 26, 1947, a church
community hall was opened
at Morwell. It was the first
church community centre in
the diocese and would fea-
ture a childrens and
youths library. RWG Phillips
appealed for donations of
books.
The first Anglican Boys
Camp to be held in the dio-
cese since 1942, was held
on Raymond Island. On
January 14, 1948, during
heavy rain, 93 boys, aged
11 to 16, arrived for the
camp. What followed was
six days of the most per-
fect summer weather that
Gippsland can produce, al-
lowing the full program of
swimming, games and con-
certs, along with daily bible
study, prayers and Sunday
services.
A cricket competition was
kept going throughout the
period of the camp and was
keenly contested.
The December 1948 issue
of The Church News con-
tained an article on mar-
riage guidance, written by
Rev. FW Moyle. He was con-
cerned that many couples
who seek marriage guid-
ance from the church, seek
it too late and he wrote
strongly of the reasons why
divorce should be recom-
mended.
I give it as my judgement
that there are some mar-
riages, even where there
are children, which ought to
be ended chiefly because
they ought never to have
been begun. Marriage was
made for man and woman,
not man and woman for
marriage. We have Christs
authority for refusing to
sacrifice human beings and
human needs to institu-
tional requirements, Moyle
wrote.
He also strongly recom-
mends parents take re-
sponsibility for teaching
their offspring the facts of
life truthfully, so they do
not grow up with misper-
ceived ideas of married life;
and education for marriage,
before marriage takes
place.
I attach more importance
to education before mar-
riage than to any rescue
work which some of us are
trying to do, often when it
is too late, he wrote.
Dorothy James, diocesan
youth organiser, in her re-
port, recommended youth
leaders and Sunday school
teachers attend the annual
holiday workshop at St
Annes, Sale, from Decem-
ber 27 to January 4, 1949.
She also recommended
the annual youth camps at
Raymond Island, for lads
and lassies from the ages of
15 to 24, for girls aged 11
to 15 and for boys, all to be
held during January 1949.
The front page of March
1949 carried a photograph
of The Gippsland, a motor
launch bought be the
church people of Gippsland
for Reverend Hugh Andrew,
a missionary in New
Guinea.
In December 1949, Won-
thaggis young rector, WH
Childs, made the metropol-
itan newspapers, along with
many at the Wonthaggi
Workmens Club, when he
led Christmas carols on
Christmas eve from the bar
of the club. There were 500
miners jammed into the
bar, drinking, but they all
stopped when Childs began
singing and, baring their
heads, joined in, according
to the report in The Church
News of February 1950.
Childs also led them in the
Lords Prayer and spoke
about the Christmas festival
of the new baby.
The June 1950 newspaper
announced the appoint-
ment of RM Southey as as-
sistant editor. JH Brown
continued as editor.
On October 7 and 8, 1950,
was the dedication of win-
dows at St Johns Lang
Lang, in memory of fallen
ABOVE and below: Dedication service for the Elizabeth Dulcie Harris Kindergarten
and Preparatory School, at Warragul, next to the church, built and furnished by Mr
and Mrs AJ Harris in memory of their daughter.
Photos: Diocesan archive
ABOVE: Gippsland diocese still had
an active presence at Lake Tyers
Aboriginal Mission. Sister Winifred
Holton was at Lake Tyers as assis-
tant chaplain, ministering particu-
larly with the Koori women.
ABOVE: Henry, Mabel and Hilda Fenton and Dot
Mobourne, after their confirmation service in
1948, with Bishop Blackwood.
Photo: Diocesan archive
Lake Tyers
continued next page
June 2013 Our Diocese - Commemorating 110 years of diocesan news 19
from previous page
soldiers from local families.
A number of old parish-
ioners and their families at-
tended the ceremony, led
by Bishop Blackwood. Rev.
GJ Prickett, who was rector
during World War I, was
able to attend and unveil
the window in the porch on
October 7. The remaining
windows were dedicated on
October 8.
Bishop Blackwood spoke
about the need to look after
the churches and meet the
needs of a growing popula-
tion, as industry saw the
beginnings of rapid growth
in the Latrobe Valley.
In the November 1950
newspaper, the Bush
Church Aid Society adver-
tised it would pay the train-
ing fees of men and women
who wish to train as clergy
and deaconesses.
The year 1951 began with
Rev. Hugh Andrew, long-
time missionary in New
Guinea, touring Gippsland
diocese and speaking about
his work.
about his experience of
General Synod, where the
Archbishop of Canterbury
preached the opening ser-
mon and addressed the first
session; and of his own
Christmas visits to Dargo
and Waterford, where he
attended parties for chil-
dren; and the blessing of
the fleet services at Port Al-
bert and San Remo.
The October 1951 news-
paper returned to the larger
broadsheet format and bet-
ter photographs began to
be printed.
Gippsland hosted the
Archbishop of York in late
1951. The newspapers
front page of March 1952
was a tribute to the late
King George VI and the new
Queen Elizabeth II : It is
because the King was so
obviously a good man, a
Christian both in belief and
practice, that he was ad-
mired so much. It is be-
cause the new Queen
possesses to the full those
same qualities of sincerity
and goodness.
The March 1952 newspa-
per congratulated the many
Gippsland men who had
achieved in the Australian
College of Theology exami-
nations the previous year.
The August 1952 newspa-
per announced KBE Raff
was the new editor, while
RM Southey continued as
assistant editor. Warragul
deanery formed a lay read-
ers group in July to regu-
larly meet for instruction
and discussion.
In his letter in The Church
News of December 1952,
that, although he some-
times had to go outside
Gippsland, he felt a
bishops real work is mainly
in his own diocese, even
though he is a bishop of the
church of God.
He also wrote: In duty
bound I felt it a privilege to
represent Gippsland at the
splendid services and func-
tions in connection with
these visits.
The June 1953 newspaper
contained details of the
proposed new nave (to
comfortably seat 200 peo-
ple), sanctuary, baptistery
and vestries of St Peters
Leongatha. The spire and
study centre would be built
when funds permitted.
A lay readers guild was to
be formed in Warragul
deanery. Extensions were
completed to St Johns
Boys Hostel in Bairnsdale,
enabling more boys from
remote East Gippsland to
live in Bairnsdale and at-
tend trade and high school.
ABOVE: Confirmees from St Aidans Newborough, with Bishop Blackwood, at St Johns
Yallourn, on August 30, 1953.
BELOW: Bishop in Council members meet on site at Morwell to discuss the need for new
churches in the diocese as industrial development, particularly in the Latrobe Valley,
saw a rapid growth in population. Bishop Blackwood said churches needed to provide
buildings, sanctuaries, kindergartens, Sunday schools and community meeting places,
to meet the peoples needs.
Photo: Diocesan archives
ABOVE: Bishop Blackwood.
LEFT: Archdeacon LWA and
Mrs Benn; he served as
Registrar, 1946 to 1952.
ABOVE: In 1953, Beverley
Anne McFarlane at her
christening at St Columbs
Swan Reach, with her par-
ents, Albert and Dorothy.
ABOVE: Sister May Lambert and a car to take her to visit isolated children
and women with the Sunday school mailbag and Mothers Union material.
20 Our Diocese - Gippslands Synod Pictorial June 2013
2013
110
th
year of The Gippsland Anglican diocesan
newspaper
June
1 Open day, Abbey of St Barnabas, ABeckett Park,
Raymond Island; demonstrations of spinning,
weaving, landcare, organic agriculture, chooks,
sheep shearing, craft, jams, preserves; games for
children; food to purchase; enquiries Ann Miller,
03 5144 3597, 0427 445866 or email
tarkaan@netspace.net.au
1 Anam Cara Community School for Prayer Day;
Christ Church Drouin; 9.30am to 4pm; enquiries,
Jane Macqueen, 0411 316346 or email
jane.macqueen@anamcara-gippsland.org
3-5 Clergy conference, with Charles and Peta Sherlock
12 Mothers Union June Join-in; 9.30am for 10am
service; Newborough; guest speaker, Tim Rock
from Kairos
14-16 Residential writing workshop, Abbey of St
Barnabas, Raymond Island; with Sue Fordham and
Archdeacon Philip Muston
22 Basic Training Program for Volunteer Pastoral Care
Visitors; St Pauls Cathedral parish; RSVP 03 5144
2020; workshop 2, 10am to 12noon.
23-26 Quadratos in an Australian context (a retreat),
Anam Cara Community; Pallotti College, Millgrove
27-29 Growth in Ministry intensive; Bishopscourt; Sale
29 Anam Cara Community annual thanksgiving
eucharist; St Marys Morwell; 11am to 2.30pm;
enquiries, Jane Macqueen, 0411 316346 or email
30 Jindivick Antique and Collectibles Fair; Jindivick
hall; St James Ladies Guild fundraiser; 9.30am to
3.30pm; $3 entry; Fay, 03 5628 5229
July
6 Anam Cara Community Day; 9.30am to 4pm;
August
3 Anam Cara Community School for Prayer Day; St
James Traralgon; 9.30am to 4pm; enquiries, Jane
Macqueen, 0411 316346 or email
8 Mary Sumner Day, Mothers Union
16 Clergy Wellbeing Day; Latrobe Convention Centre,
Traralgon
20 Mothers Union executive meeting, Morwell,
9.30am
22 Celebrating 50 years of Mothers Union at
Leongatha; guest speaker Libby Cross, MU
Australia president.
September
8 Back to church Sunday
13-15 Anam Cara Community retreat, Abbey of St
Barnabas, ABeckett Park; Living as a contempla-
tive in the world; enquiries, Jane Macqueen, 0411
316346, jane.macqueen@anamcara-gippsland.org
17 Mothers Union Gippsland AGM, Warragul
30-Oct. 3 Clergy retreat; Pallotti College, Millgrove. TBC.
(Alternate dates, October 14 to 17.)
October
Sept. 30-Oct. 3 Clergy retreat; Pallotti College, Millgrove
5 Anam Cara Community School for Prayer Day;
Bishopscourt, Sale; 9.30am to 4pm; enquiries,
Jane Macqueen, 0411 316346 or email
November
Diocesan calendar
ABOVE: At synod, held at
St Annes campus of Gipps-
land Grammar, at Sale,
were Beth Delzoppo OAM
representing Neerim South,
Rowena Armstrong AO,
Chancellor of Synod and
John Delzoppo OAM, Chair-
man of Committees.
RIGHT: Bill Davies and
Roger Jackman talking
about the far east of the
diocese.
RIGHT: Greg Magee and
Amy Turner.
LEFT: Bruce
Charles and Mar-
garet Hancock.
BELOW left: Erena
Lawrence and Eric
Kent.
BELOW: Phyllis
Andy.
Photos: Jeanette
Severs

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Volume 110, Number 5 June 2013

Published in Gippsland Diocese since 1904

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