Seaspray residents are overjoyed by the State Government’s recent

decision to delay approvals for on­shore gas exploration until at least July 2015. Residents have run a long

campaign, and were preparing to blockade Lakes Oil, the company planning to conduct horizontal drilling for gas close to the coastal town of Seaspray. Archdeacon Philip Muston

commented on the news: “It’s great that the concerns of the local communities on this mining issue are being heard by the State Government and being given further consideration. Congratulations to the people of Seaspray on this victory for their community.” Lakes Oil put in a drilling

application to the Energy Minister, Russell Northe, in September last year, but the decision had been long delayed due to community opposition. Lakes Oil began laying a

new access road to the proposed drilling site on their land early in May. In response, community members had set up a blockade camp on a neighbouring property. Residents had been further

angered to hear that Lakes Oil Director Rob Annells would not rule out legal action against the Victorian State Government if they did not approve the horizontal drilling licence in Seaspray. This was reported in the Weekly Times Now on 22/5/2014 (weeklytimesnow.com.au). Local business owner,

Glenda Bunting, said “Mr Annells might think horizontal drilling instead of further fracking is a good compromise, but we do not.” Mr. Annells told TGA that

Lakes Oil’s original plan for the site was to frack for the gas, but because of the moratorium on fracking, they had to change their plans. They decided they could use the same method as for the off­shore wells, which go down very deep to

the sandstone, and then drill horizontally. He said “We’re not going

anywhere near the water table”, explaining that the sandstone is 1.2 – 1.5 km deep, while the water table is close to the surface. He added, “I’ve got grandchildren. I don’t want to pollute the water table”. Mr. Annells claims that the

project would not affect farms, saying that “it’s just bracken”,

and that Lakes Oil would plant trees or pasture to improve the land as part of their clean up !"#$%&#'$&(%)*$+#&,!-&./0-'$12&But Seaspray beef producer,

Tracey McGuiness, said “We have a thriving food growing, beef, dairy and tourism industry in Seaspray ... We are not prepared to compromise on the safety of our community and the industries that support us and produce food for the whole

state.” On the water issue, she said, “This type of drilling is risky, experimental and still puts our precious underground water at risk, as all well casings eventually fail”. Lock the Gate Victorian

Coordinator, Ursula Alquier, congratulated the Seaspray community on their win and also said “It’s a huge step in the right direction towards a total ban.”

Peace

with justice page 2

Alternative energy for Gippsland?

page 3

Synod

reports page 6 and 7

Finding a voice page 12

TheAnglicanVolume 111, Number 5, June 2014 Published in Gippsland Diocese since 1904

Deconsecration

at Moe page 5

Gippsland

A nation defined by war? Page 10

SYNOD AT KORUMBURRA...see reports pages 6 and 7

Yarram

Photo: Jan Down

Photo courtesy Lock The Gate

Photo: Stephen Issell

Seaspray claims win against drillingby Jan Down

TGA

Page 2 The Gippsland Anglican June 2014

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TheAnglicanGippsland

IndexSeaspray claims 1 win against drilling Letter from the bishop 2 Alternative energy 3 for Gippsland? Around the Parishes 4-5 37th session of Synod 6 Korumburra Speaking out for 6 asylum seekers Review of Parish 6 Administration Act How many slaves 6 work for you? Support for Gahini Diocese 7 redirected to parishes Call to change banks 7 for integrity of creation From the schools 8 For young disciples 9 President’s Address 10-11 at Synod Finding a voice – 12 Jim Connelly Diocesan calendar 12

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the Anglican Development Fund (A.D.F.) for the Diocese of Gippsland.

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Bishop John McIntyre

Where the church understands itself to be missional, it

has vitality. Strictly speaking, the church does not have a mission but God’s mission in the world has a church. Our aim in being church is to join with God in God’s mission. 8/1& )<%& +'!==$/7$& 0-& #)& ./1&the language that has traction today to express to others the substance of God’s mission. Essentially, the mission of

God in the world is to establish peace with justice, that for which every human heart truly yearns. The Old Testament prophets spoke of God’s desire to establish “The Peaceable Kingdom” in all the earth, a harmony of existence between creator and the created in every dimension of creation;

between God and people; between peoples; and between people and the rest of creation, including even the wild animals. It is a beautiful image of peace with justice as the gift of God through God’s reconciling mission in the world. Such kind of language, I believe, still has traction in our world. >/&#'$&.%-#&(=!+$?&'),$4$%?&0#&0-&

not simply about language. It is about being; integrity of being. People entrust themselves to people of integrity; to those who are demonstrably trustworthy. Unless there is an integrity of being in our church life, it does not matter what language we use to speak of God’s purposes for this world. This was certainly true of

Jesus in his day. The crowds recognised an inherent authority in Jesus “unlike that of the Scribes and Pharisees”, primarily because he acted with integrity. His language was not all that different from theirs but his integrity was remarkably different. It was revealed in his attitude

towards others, marked by his humility and his concern for their well­being, and particularly for the well­being of those for whom the powerful in society had little or no care: the marginalised; those considered unrighteous or sinners; and the dispossessed.

Describing Jesus’ integrity gives us further language for God’s mission that has traction in today’s world. His integrity is revealed in his consistent working for peace; his seeking of justice and his showing of mercy, beginning with the inclusion of the poor and disenfranchised “sinners” or “outsiders”. But is this language still enough to express the substance of God’s mission in the world today? @/$& #%)<3=$& ")%&<-& 0/&./10/7&

good language is that words like peace, justice, mercy and inclusion have their own baggage now. For many, peace is just about “my little bit of ($!+$A& )%& !3-$/+$& )"& +)/B0+#?&while justice only means treating everyone the same. This is far from the Biblical concept of peace with justice, which demands a recognition that it is not just about me, or even just about us, but demands the active pursuit of peace with justice for all and any, even our enemies. It requires a bias towards the poor, a bias decried by the rich and powerful as unjust. For others, mercy may be

seen as unwarranted softness, especially towards those whom they believe deserve to be treated harshly because of who they are or what they have done. This contrasts strongly with the mercy of God, shown towards those who, in the eyes of others, least deserve it. Again, inclusion is seen by some today as ethically laissez­faire or unclear.

This contrasts with the inclusion of God who welcomes the outcast with open arms, much to the chagrin of the righteous. Failure to understand biblical

concepts of peace with justice, mercy and inclusion arise in the failure to understand what lies at the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; grace shown towards everyone and anyone, including you and me. Living out the biblical concepts of peace with justice, mercy and inclusion is possible only in the embrace of grace, God’s undeserved and unmerited favour. Only in the experience of grace can we live by grace. To be a missional church is

simply in integrity to be Christ­like and in grace to point to Jesus Christ in all we are and all we do. It is to be present in community with an integrity of being that assures all those whose lives we touch that we are there alone for their well­being; that we are constantly and consistently committed to peace with justice, mercy and inclusion. Where we can live out that

demand I am convinced people will be drawn anew to faith in Jesus Christ. Then our churches will grow as we participate in the mission of God in the world.

Letter from the Bishop

Peace with justice, mercy and inclusion An extract from the President’s Address at Synod, Saturday 17th May, 2014

TGA

June 2014 The Gippsland Anglican Page 3

Alternative energy for Gippsland?

by Jan Down

While community opposition to coal and coal seam

gas mining in Gippsland is mainly focussed on threats to agriculture, water, health, and the general amenity of the land, many people are also concerned about the need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels in the light of climate change. They believe Gippsland should be developing renewable energy, such as wind and solar power. The Gippsland Climate

Change Network comprises 50 member groups, including government departments and agencies, private businesses, community groups and other organisations, covering the six local government areas across greater Gippsland. It has partnered with the six shires to create Sustainability Gippsland, an on­line resource which lists dozens of sustainability groups.Blair Donaldson who, until

recently, was managing the website for Gippsland Friends of Future Generations, sees great potential for renewables in Gippsland. He said, “I would love to see the area become a clean technology centre, most practically in the Latrobe Valley and surrounding areas. I would

also like to see more wind farms in the area. We have the resource, we have the hills and we could be providing jobs and clean energy to a fair portion of Victoria. “I cannot see why

Gippsland cannot become a leader in education, health, technology, communications and manufacturing industries. We have the population and the expertise, the only thing missing is the political will. The shortsightedness of our politicians makes me despair. I don’t like the idea of generations coming after us cleaning up our mess.” The Mallacoota Sustainable

Energy Group has recently partnered with SPAusNet and the East Gippsland Shire Council in a feasibility study to investigate future options for low carbon energy supply and improved security to Mallacoota. The Anglican church in

Gippsland also has people who believe we should be moving to renewables. The Bishop of Gippsland, the Rt. Rev. John McIntyre, said “The elephant in the room for fracking is climate change. All the energy going into stopping fracking in Gippsland constantly opens up the question of where our power will come from if not from burning fossil fuels, including tight gas.”

Archdeacon Edie Ashley sees climate change as a social justice issue. “This is a dilemma, as on the one hand the developed nations created the problem – and used a disproportionate amount of the world’s non­renewable fossil fuels and energy; the developing nations want to ‘catch up’ and use their share of the world’s non

renewable fuel to create their national economic wealth, BUT the solution to the problem of climate change will only be found when all find a way to operate as a global community... and take responsibility together.”On alternative energy,

Edie said “We need to invest in technologies that use renewable fuel, that take advantage of the benefits of the environment in which we live, that are clean and support sustainable practices as we work ‘to safeguard

the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth’ ”.Archdeacon Philip

Muston raised the issue of affordability, both for churches looking at investing in renewable energy, and for the region as a whole. He said that most parishes in the diocese are “struggling to make ends meet”, so they are unlikely to spend money on, for example, a new solar hot water system, when the gas or electric system they have is still functional. Philip extrapolated to Gippsland: “It’s the same thing on a bigger scale. Who is going to supply the billions of dollars to do it [invest in renewables]... It’s a big statement to say we should close down the brown coal power stations. People would lose their jobs.” He said he is against fracking, calling it “a false saviour”, and concluded “Wouldn’t it be great if we could work out a way that we could burn coal that was clean?”One not­for­profit research

and education organisation, Beyond Zero Emissions, believes it has an affordable solution. In partnership with the University of Melbourne’s Energy Institute, BZE has published a Stationary Energy Plan (2010), which they say is “a fully costed transition plan for getting Australia to zero emissions in ten years using commercially available technology”. The cost to households, they say, would be $8 per week.The Plan includes 60%

solar thermal power with molten salt storage, providing 24 hour electricity (not just when the sun shines) 40% wind power, and a further 2% backup via biomass and hydroelectricity.

They say they “accept the findings of the most current science, which shows that we have already allowed climate change to go too far, and must act immediately to reduce our levels of greenhouse gas emissions to zero and below”.On the question of what

is included for Gippsland in the Stationary Energy Plan, Ben Courtice, BZE’s Media Coordinator said it “includes major wind energy generation on the south Gippsland coast... We don’t envisage large scale solar in the area, as the sunlight is much more reliable north of the Divide, so Mildura would be the obvious place for that.“One common sense idea

for the Valley is to use the large engineering workforce there to manufacture components for the wind farms (or other clean energy technology like solar, electric trains, or whatever).”Currently there are two

wind farms in Gippsland, at Wonthaggi and Toora, and another, Ball Hills Wind Farm, is under construction. Others are planned, but current law prohibits wind farms from being built within two kilometres of homes.The question of just

how urgent the problem of climate change is, is critical to the response. The Climate Council (formerly the government­established Climate Commission but now an independent body) says that “most of the fossil fuel reserves must stay in the ground if we are to stabilise the climate this century”. They quote the recent IPCC report as indicating that “the world needs to at least triple the use of clean power sources, like solar and wind, by 2050”.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Sustainability Gippslandwww.sustainabilitygippsland.com

Beyond Zero Emissions: bze.org.auThe Australian Religious Response to Climate Change:

www.arrcc.org.au

“We need to invest in

technologies that use

renewable fuel, that

take advantage of

the benefits of

the environment in

which we live...”

WInd Farm - Wonthaggi Photo Jane Peters

On the Anzac weekend this year, 36 people associated with St

Mary’s, Mirboo North, went to Camp Coolamatong to have a “chill out” weekend, spending time together and connecting with those who are on the “fringe” of our church congregation. This is the second time we

have been to this Scripture Union camp and both weekends have been very much enjoyed by those who participated. Coolamatong is a school camp

so the accommodation consists of numerous comfortable bunk rooms, including three small cottages which have their own shower/toilet. There is a large dining/sitting room which has !/& )($/& .%$& !/1& 7!-& '$!#$%&making the room comfortable and functional. A commercial kitchen makes catering easy, and a relaxed attitude by the Camp managers helps to make our time #'$%$&"</C.==$1&!/1&-#%$--&"%$$2&On the grounds of the Camp

are a variety of activities that were enjoyed by the children (and some of the big kids) including billy carts, table tennis, swings, ropes course and bike riding – but the most popular activity was the canoeing on Lake Victoria. Many of the campers had a go at canoeing, young and old alike, with several falling into the water! Some of the kids braved the moderate temperatures and went on the swing rope into the water. There was always a card game or a puzzle on the go in the dining room, with the young kids having a ball going between the outside activities and the indoor table activities. The best part, though, was

spending quality time with the partners of parishioners, those people who stay at home on Sundays when their spouses go off to church, and also the families who are involved in our outreach ministries such as MOPS (Mothers of Pre­schoolers). We have a vision for our camps where we can invite and include people who are on the fringe of our church community, and get to know them and build relationships with them. However, many of these people struggle ./!/+0!==D2& E)& #'!/6-& #)&an Anglicare grant which subsidised their costs, they and their families were able to attend. We are already looking forward to next year’s camp!

Anam Cara Quiet Day

“The Wounded Healer”

by Carolyn Raymond

TGAAround The Parishes

“The Wounded Healer” was the theme of a Quiet Day at St James’, Traralgon, on Saturday 10th May.

Having been inspired by the book of the same name by Henri Nouwen, we wanted to tell his story, and our own stories, alongside The Story, and so deepen our spiritual understanding.

We were richly blessed in having as speakers the Rev Anne Turner and Val Lawrence. As both speakers underlined, we are all broken and wounded. Our brokenness affects us in different ways. Awareness and understanding of our wounding is an opportunity for healing of ourselves and with God’s grace to support others in their healing. Being vulnerable before others encourages intimacy, opening us to the presence of God in

ourselves and in others. The power of faithfulness in prayer reveals the love of God within our wounding.

The day included times of worship and also times of silent prayer and meditation. St James’ church is a wonderful building in which to find a sacred space to pray. The people of St James’ helped the running of the Quiet Day in many different ways. They truly gave the gift of their hospitality to all who attended from across the diocese.

Anam Cara is a Contemplative Community. We host Quiet Days in different venues across the Diocese, so that people committed to he inner journey can come and share, learn and pray together.

For more information, go to anamcaragippsland.org

Page 4 The Gippsland Anglican June 2014

St. Mary’s Mirboo North Family Camp

by Denise Martin, on behalf of St. Mary’s Camp Committee 2014

Beppo & Boppo!

The Rev. Geoff Pittaway pushing; Geoff Martin and granddaughter Dinisty Francis riding.

Matthew Cook braves the cool water

Foreground: (left) Lesley McFarland, (right) Pam Pincini; background: (left) Flynn Burgess/Pincini, (right) Tarni Bartlett

Hills near Korumburra, photo by Jan Down

The Parish of Moe will commence a new journey in its mission

to the community when it de­consecrates and secularises the Church of the Holy Trinity on 15th June, after a Eucharist celebrated by the Bishop at 2.30pm, to be followed by a time of fellowship over afternoon tea in Trinity Hall.The Parish has taken this

step as it looks towards its redevelopment within planned new facilities centred on the property where Saint Luke’s Church is located. It is never an easy decision

to close a church, especially on a site where a church has been active for 119 years and in a building that has served as a church for 46 years. The decision was taken after lengthy consultation and prayer which led the parish to believe that this was the best way to minister to the community in the future.

The planned new development includes a new worship centre, hall, kitchen, )".+$& !/1&F$$#0/7& !%$!-& "%)F&which a variety of programs can be conducted. It is intended that the new centre will be built from the proceeds of the sale of property such as the Holy Trinity site.The service on Sunday

June 15th will give us the opportunity of giving thanks for all that Holy Trinity has meant to the Anglican Parish of Moe and the Moe community in general. We recognise that if we are to move forward we need to pay respect to our past heritage and see that the vision that led to the building of the original and the current Holy Trinity Churches will live on in the new complex.The Parish invites all who

have had a connection with Holy Trinity to join us as we celebrate an important part of our life as church.

June 2014 The Gippsland Anglican Page 5

TGA Around The Parishes

Deconsecration at Moe

on Sunday June 15th 2014

On Wednesday June 11th (St Barnabas Day) the Reverend

John Goodman will celebrate the 60th Anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood at a Solemn Eucharist at St Luke’s Moe commencing at 6pm followed by a dinner in Saint Luke’s Hall. Fr John was ordained

Priest by Bishop Arnold Lo­mas Wilde at St. Barnabas, West Wyalong, in 1954, after having been ordained deacon at Holy Trinity Dubbo the previous year. His ministry took him to

Dubbo, the Lockhart River Mission, Violet Town, Ed­enhope, Sebastopol Bun­ninyong, Timboon, Elliston, Lock, Wudinna, Brought­on Valley/Crystal Brook and Donald before retiring in Gippsland where he has

assisted at Traralgon, Rose­dale, Churchill, Boolar­ra, Moe, Newborough and Bunyip. He currently resides in Moe where he is an Asso­ciate Priest of the Parish.All are invited to the

Eucharist, and if you wish to come to the Dinner please reply to the Moe Anglican Parish, PO Box 224 Moe, )%& 3D& (')/0/7& #'$& )".+$G&0351271119 by Monday June 2nd.

John Goodman – 60th anniversary of priesthoood

by Graeme Nicholls

Nancye and John Goodman with youth group member

Page 6

The second session of the 37th Synod for the Diocese of Gippsland

was held at Korumburra from 16th – 18th May, 2014, beginning with fellowship over meals held at various locations around the town on the Friday night.The Rev. Jenny Ramage,

rector of St. Paul’s Korumburra, and the congregation offered Synod members warm hospitality over the weekend.The Synod Eurcharist was

held at St. Paul’s at 8.30 a.m. on Saturday morning. Synod members then moved a short distance up the road to the Italian Social Club, where )".+0!=& 3<-0/$--& 3$7!/& !# 10:00 am., following morning tea and opening prayers led by the Bishop’s Chaplain, the Rev. Jo White.The Bishop of Gippsland,

the Rt. Rev. John McIntyre delivered the President’s Address, covering a wide range of topics including:

• the importance of being a missional church

• querying current trends in ANZAC Day celebrations • the federal government’s treatment of asylum seekers • the government’s Commission of Audit and the federal budget • the removal of the carbon tax concerns about fracking and brown coal allocations • comments on a motion to establish a corporate entity to enable diocesan clergy to be included under Work Cover arrangements • mention of individual people matters Bishop John was battling

against his on­going illness during Synod, chairing sessions 3<#& #'$/& %$-#0/7& 3%0$BD& %!#'$%&than socialising.Reports were received from

diocesan organisations and the two grammar schools. Motions of particular interest and concern to Synod members were those concerning the

treatment of asylum seekers; modern slavery and human #%!".+60/7H& -<(()%#0/7& I!'0/0&Diocese in Rwanda; and a motion requesting a change to diocesan banking arrangements in order to safeguard the integrity of creation. On Saturday night, Synod

members were surprised by a visit from three clowns, Beans, Smudge and Magilla – closely associated with the Rev. Brenda Burney, the Rev. Jenny Ramage, and the Rev. Geoff Pittaway – who proceeded to hold a picnic on stage, with their backs to the audience. Despite Magilla’s protestations, Beans and Smudge were convinced they were alone, until the very end of their “private”, and very funny conversation.Entertainment was also

provided by two very impressive singers, Phil Beggs followed by Grahame Hastie. Phil Beggs, who writes some of his own songs, also played guitar and sang at the Synod Eucharist and the service on Sunday morning.Sunday morning included

some work in parish groups to discuss plans for implementing the Diocesan Strategic Directions vision. Each parish created post­it notes on each of the three

aspects of the vision, which were put onto display boards. Trends across the diocese ,$%$&#'$/&!3=$&#)&3$&01$/#0.$12&

Synod 2014

Sale Yarram

The Venerable Edie Ashley

L-R John Delzoppo, Bishop John McIntyre and Rowena Armstrong QC

SECOND SESSION OF 37TH SYNOD AT KORUMBURRA

Review of Parish Administration Act

– “potentially quite radical”

Archdeacon Philip Muston’s motion proposed a review of the Parish Administration Act “in the light of changing circumstances, with a view to creating the possibility of 7%$!#$%&B$J030=0#D&0/&(!%0-'&7)4$%/!/+$A2Philip’s speech raised the question of how parishes are

1$./$1& !/1& F$/#0)/$1& #'$& 01$!& )"& K/)/C7$)7%!('0+!=A&expressions of church. Other possibilities canvassed included a ‘sabbatical’ for church councillors after a number of years, and an age limit for church councillors and church wardens.The seconder of the motion, the Very Rev. Steve Clarke,

said that “this is not a modest proposal”, but rather that it was “potentially quite radical” and had great potential in helping to turn Gippsland into a missional diocese. He urged a “bold review” of the Act.The motion was passed without dissent.

How many slaves work for you?

Speaking out for asylum seekers

The Very Rev. Steve Clarke, Dean of Sale Cathedral, moved that

Synod request the Bishop to write to both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Federal Opposition, urging the government (in summary) to L#!6$&0FF$10!#$&!/1&-<".+0$/#&steps to ensure that all persons intercepted on their way to or arriving on our shores, by whatever means, are treated with dignity, respect and in a way which does not impact adversely on their physical or mental well­being’.While this motion was

uncontroversial within Synod, it generated strong interest and discussion. Several people rose to speak in favour and also to urge everyone to speak out on behalf of

asylum seekers. There were no speakers against the motion.The Rev. Sue Jacka from

Trafalgar, seconder of the motion, encouraged Synod members to write to their local politicians, who she said had sometimes been “rapped over the knuckles” for speaking out themselves. They therefore needed the support of constituents. She also encouraged members to do something in their parishes, such as holding a dinner to welcome refugees. Sue said that the Welcome to My Place for Dinner program available through World Vision (see welcometomyplace.org.au) provides training and resources to help people offer hospitality.

Sarah Gover, who also spoke in favour of the motion, said that in her electorate 85% of people agreed with the government’s policy on asylum seekers. This again highlighted the need for people to speak out.Another speaker, Canon

Jeff Richardson, told the story of how his parish had advocated for a group of Chinese national students in Australia after the Tianneman Square massacre in 1989, and how, after a long campaign, they were eventually all granted permanent residency. He strongly urged people to “persevere and endure” in their support of asylum seekers.

A motion concerning the treatment of asylum seekers received strong and passionate support from Synod.

The Rev. Graham Toohill, from Leongatha, brought a motion to Synod affirming opposition to all forms of modern slavery and human trafficking, and urging Synod to write to Anti-slavery Australia to “enquire about ways the Diocese could support efforts to stop these practices from operating in Australia”. The motion also asked that Synod “encourage all Gippsland parishes to pray for and support the work of those who are struggling to free slaves”.

Heather Scott, from Leongatha, in seconding the motion, explained how much cheaper a slave is today compared with 1850. She directed attention to the handouts on tables providing further information, and a survey people can complete in order to find out how many slaves work for them. (See slaveryfootprint.org)

After an amendment to include to the word “and overseas” after the words “in Australia”, the motion was passed without opposition.

Page 6 The Gippsland Anglican June 2014

St Paul’s Korumburra

More detailed reports follow, and highlights from the President’s Address are found on pages 2, 10 and

The Rev. Sue Jacka from Trafalgar brought a late motion to Synod

on Saturday morning, calling on Bishop­in­Council to investigate “changing banking arrangements from the 8MN& 3!/6?& ,'0+'& ./!/+$-&unsustainable mining projects, #)& !&./!/+0!=& 0/-#0#<#0)/&,')-$&policies and procedures enable <-& #)& "<=.=& #'$& O0"#'& P!%6& )"&Mission with integrity”. The motion also called on individual Anglicans and parishes to “carefully consider their own banking arrangements”.

The Fifth Mark of Mission for the Anglican Communion is “To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth”. The motion was presented

late because the Rev. Sue Jacka only became aware of the issue a few days before Synod met. However, she was convinced it was too important to be left out of this year’s Synod.As time ran out for the motion

to be properly addressed, Synod gave leave for Sue to -($!6& 3%0$BD& !3)<#& 0#& !"#$%&

the scheduled ending time on Sunday morning.Sue explained, “Our banks

are funding a big problem. Since 2008, the ‘Big 4’ banks – Westpac, Commonwealth, NAB and ANZ – have loaned almost $19 billion to new coal and gas projects in Australia. These projects threaten our land, water, health, the climate and precious ecosystems like the Great Barrier Reef.”More information can

be found at 350.org and gofossilfree.org/.

The most controversial motion brought to Synod this year was the proposal that Synod donate $10,000 to the Diocese of Gahini for the training of evangelists.

The motion was brought by the Rev. Graham Toohill of Leongatha.

The controversy was not about whether the diocese of Gippsland should financially support Gahini (there was full support for this) but rather how that support should be given.

Synod was divided over whether individual parishes should raise funds, or whether Synod as a whole should make a donation. There were several speakers both for and against the motion.

Some speakers were concerned that although there is a surplus anticipated in the Budget for 2014/2015, there is always uncertainty in making such predictions. There were also questions raised about whether the Gahini Diocese request from for funds had gone through the proper processes.

The Very Rev. Steve Clarke proposed an amendment

to exclude part b) of the motion, which was the actual proposal for Synod to donate $10,000. The Rev. Jenny Ramage argued in support of this amendment, that “the parishes are the diocese”, and that if parishes work to raise the funds, they will be involved, and will have a more personal sense of connection with Gahini people.

Tom Killingbeck spoke against the amendment saying “It cuts the heart out of the motion”.

The Rev. Geoff Pittaway, in tentative support of the amendment, spoke about how his parish of Mirboo North has supported Gahini.

Mirboo North has had a link with the Parish of Kawangire in Gahini since the two Dioceses started in covenant relationship. Even though that connection seems now been to be no longer a formalised relationship, Mirboo North, like some other parishes, have kept up the relationship with their link parish.

Mirboo North has Link Missionaries (through CMS) in Rwanda – Tim & Catherine Walker – whom they support

as a couple who are helping the people of Rwanda in their jobs as doctor and teacher respectively.

Geoff said, “We also support 12–14 students in their higher schooling. This requires about $300 per year per student which is funded by our parishioners and some people from outside the congregations in association with parishioners. We have watched several of these students graduate and go on to get jobs which support their families, communities and their country”.

After much discussion, the amendment was narrowly carried. The final motion passed by Synod was as follows:

That this Synod:

a. Affirms its support for the Rwandan Diocese of Gahini and its link parishes;

b. Invites parishes to contribute to a financial gift from the Diocese of Gippsland to the Diocese of Gahini in this significant year in the life of Rwanda.

Call to change banks for integrity of creation

Maffra

Synod 2014Strategic Directions planning

Synod at work

Support for Gahini Diocese re­directed to parishes

June 2014 The Gippsland Anglican Page 7

Multi­tasking Synod members– six knitters spotted and one embroiderer

WANTED Large

sanctuary chair

Call: 5341 5544

Kangaroo Paw by the Venerable

Edie Ashley

The Rev. Rich Lanham with post­it notes

Sale Yarram

DIOCESAN RETREAT A time for spiritual renewal

Friday evening 12 September to Saturday afternoon 13 September

at The Abbey, Raymond Island

Led by Bishop John McIntyre

For bookings and further information contact

The Abbey 5156 6580 or

info@theabbey.org.au

Page 8 The Gippsland Anglican June 2014

TGA

Faith in the !"#$%&'#$(

A -$=$+#0)/&)"&Q$!%&99&-#<1$/#-&"%)F&E#&R!<=S-&F!1$&!&-$=B$--&F)4$&#)&!=#$%&tradition at the recent Presentation Ball. They decided that the traditional ‘gift’ given to a partner at the Ball should instead become a donation

to Oxfam. Over $600 was raised which is enough to fund a water system for a community through Oxfam.

The 29th St Paul’s Presentation Ball welcomed over 827 attendees in the Secondary School Gymnasium which was transformed back to the 1920s in keeping with the theme of The Great Gatsby. Lots of glitz and glamour set the scene while the St Paul’s big band played as part of the presentations. St Paul’s students from many year levels helped on the evening either in the band, as waiting staff, ushers, and even the M.C.

by Daniel Lowe

As part of our Warragul Secondary Campus Easter Service on the

last day of Term 1, three Year 12 students put themselves in #'$& .%0/7& =0/$& #)& #!+6=$& -)F$&10".+<=#& T<$-#0)/-2& E0##0/7& )/&a couch (to provide at least some comfort) in front of the entire Secondary School, they answered a series of questions about their Christian faith. Beginning with a brief

explanation of how each of #'$F& '!1& 3$$/& 0/B<$/+$1& 0/&their own faith journey, the

questions quickly moved to tougher ground. Some of the questions they tackled included:

• What about all the hypocrisy in the church? • If Christians are so nice, why is there so much abuse being reported? • Why doesn’t God just show up and prove He exists? • How can you talk about a loving God when there is

so much evil in the world?

The way the students responded to these questions was impressive. Each of them demonstrated a thoughtfulness, maturity and graciousness in their answers which was appreciated by all students, regardless of their own views on the matter.

The Rev. Daniel Lowe is chaplain at St. Paul’s Anglican Grammar School.

From The Schools

St Paul’s students fund a water system through Oxfam

The 2nd Annual Jindivick Antique and Collectables Fair

Sunday 29th June 9:00 am until 3:30 pmAt the Jinidivick Hall Jacksons Track, Jindivick

Admission $5.00In aid of St James, Jindivick

Contact Faye Parke 5628 5229

Maffra

`

June 2014 The Gippsland Anglican Page 9

TGA

God wants you to be all he created you to be

The Great Debate: “Is Jesus/God relevant for today?”Saturday 21st June Loch Masonic Hall

7:30 pm for 8:00 pm start

BYO drinks and nibbles, tea and coffee provided $5 per head– funds raised go to

Milpara Community House, Korumburra

Teams: The Very Rev. Steve Clarke, Bishop John McIntyre, Dave Perryman and the Rev. Sue Jacka

v. The Loch team Come and enjoy some lively and honest conversation

about God/Jesus

SYNOD SATURDAY NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Phll Beggs sings at the Synod dinner

Smudge and Beans examine dessertMagilla is helped into costume

Rich Lanham

writes to young disciples

When I was young I couldn’t seem to get the idea that doing the wrong thing would only end in trouble. Now it’s not like I had no choice or didn’t know what I was doing – I just didn’t know how to change, and I got used to my role as the “bad kid”.

Changing your behaviour or beliefs can be very hard. There’s an old saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. The idea is that once you are set in your ways, you’re stuck there.

I know it’s hard to change, but definitely not impossible. I believed what people said about me and I was sure that I would always be bad and couldn’t change, but that’s the great lie. We can always change, we can always come to Jesus and say we are sorry and be forgiven. There is a verse in 1 Peter that tells how the enemy is always trying to keep us from trusting God.

1 Peter 5:8 says “Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around

to find someone to attack.”My belief that I was no good

or too bad was an attack. The enemy never wants us to believe that God loves us. God wants to see us become all that he created us to be.

Jesus knows that we can become stuck in our ways. He also knows that we have an enemy that would like us to stay stuck and never know that God loves us.

God loves us so much that he has done all he can to make it possible for us to be the people he created us to be. A people who know God, who love God and love his creation. In fact although we can feel distant from God and our lives seem so separated from him, he reaches out to us. Even though we have lived showing no love to God, he smothers us with his love so we will know that we are his children. Read the following passage:

John 3:16-21 CEV

“God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. God

did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them! No one who has faith in God’s Son will be condemned. But everyone who doesn’t have faith in him has already been condemned for not having faith in God’s only Son.

The light has come into the world, and people who do evil things are judged guilty because they love the dark more than the light. People who do evil hate the light and won’t come to the light, because it clearly shows what they have done. But everyone who lives by the truth will come to the light, because they want others to know that God is really the one doing what they do.”

Jesus died to set us free from the power of sin. Sin is turning away from God or living as though God’s way is unimportant, unnecessary or nonexistent. “Sin”, the Bible says “leads to death” – eternal separation from God. Jesus came to give us life through faith in him.

So for me I now know that God loves me and that Jesus has set me free from the power of sin. Now I want to live a life that instead of turning away from God turns back to him. That’s what repentance is. A life where we look to Jesus as the example of how we should live, love and act. And as we become more like Jesus we become all God created us to be.

PRAYER:

Father God, thank you for loving me even when I haven’t loved you. Thank you for sending Jesus to free me from the power of sin. Lord Jesus please help me to know you, to love you and to follow your example. I want to be the person you created me to be. Amen

God bless you

Rich Lanham is the Diocesan Youth Development officer

by Bishop John McIntyre

The ANZAC myth is not true

I have to admit to being intrigued and, if honest, a little disturbed, by current

attitudes to ANZAC Day. Admittedly I am a child of the 60s and 70s who watched the ANZAC myth sink into )3=040)/& !/1& 0/-07/0.+!/+$?&and I was happy to see that happening. Please don’t get me wrong

when I say this. Both my grandfathers fought in WW1 as did my father in WW2, while my mother was in the Women’s Air Force in WW2. I recognise #'$&'<7$&-!+%0.+$-&#'$D&!/1&-)&many others made, and their courage and resourcefulness in times of great devastation and violence. That is certainly part of our history and is rightly remembered as such.My problem is not that

we should not honour, nor be grateful for, nor celebrate the lives of those who gave so much of themselves -!+%0.+0!==D& 0/& #'$& (!-#?& /)%&that we should forget those ,')& +)/#0/<$& #)& -!+%0.+$&so much of themselves in 10".+<=#& +0%+<F-#!/+$-& )"&+)/B0+#&#)1!D2My problem is with the

ANZAC myth. It seems to me it has more recently been revitalised with a new and wrong emphasis, and at a time when successive Australian Governments have felt a need to rekindle a commitment to war as a means of responding to current world situations, not always wisely.My problem here is two­

fold. Firstly, the ANZAC myth is simply not true. To suggest that 1915 at Gallipoli was when Australia declared its coming of age as an independent nation is patently untrue. The only reason we were in Turkey at the time is because we were still very much at the beck and call of the British Empire. In what was a European war that essentially had nothing to do with us, we were present only out of obligation to our imperial masters. We did not understand that we had a choice to do anything other than respond to their demands. How is that possibly a celebration of our independent nationhood?

ANZAC spirit – or human spirit?

Furthermore, the human qualities of courage, %$-)<%+$"<=/$--?& -!+%0.+$?&commitment to each other in extreme adversity, and any other positive attribute we would associate with our celebrations of ANZAC Day are not Australian or New Zealander only. They are human. Iraqis, Afghans, Africans, and Asians are just as capable of these attributes as any Australian. The so­called ANZAC spirit,

of which we claim to be the sole inheritors and guardians, is actually simply the human spirit, to which any other human being can aspire with the same fervour and commitment. It is problematic to suggest,

as we seem to do, that what marks us out as Australian is simply what any human being ,)<=1& !".%F& !-& ()-0#04$2& >#&is an indication of the true intent of the revitalisation of the ANZAC myth for a whole new generation of Australians, wh ich i s e s sen t i a l ly nationalistic. I think it is to try and convince ourselves of a kind of superiority as a people that reinforces our national identity over against that of other peoples. It is essentially self­serving and becomes the rationalisation for all kinds of possibilities, from justifying wars through to securing our borders against those perceived as outsiders seeking asylum among us.

!"#$"%&'(&)*+,&-.&/)01

Secondly, it is dangerous to suggest, as the ANZAC myth does, that it is only through !+#-&)"&,!%&#'!#&,$&+!/&1$./$&ourselves as nation. This tends to lead to the bizarre conclusion that the primary way to respond to the challenges of life as a nation is to declare war on someone, or even something!

And that then is what we do.We have more recently declared war in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, ironically again in situations that have nothing to do with us, this time at the bequest of our new masters, the United States of America. And in the case of Iraq, it was at the bequest of both our new and old masters, with the USA and the UK convincing us to join that ill­founded war of attrition on the basis of a lie we gladly believed; the presence of non­existent weapons of mass destruction.

A war on drugs

But we have taken the war motif even further in our national life as well. Again in the footsteps of the USA, we have, for example, declared war on drugs. In doing that, we treat the problem of drugs in the community as a criminal issue rather than a health issue. The real victims of the war on drugs are those most vulnerable to abuse and despair and whose lives are further destroyed by substance abuse. They include our children. P$!/,'0=$?& #')-$& ,')& (%).#&"%)F&#'$0%&F0-$%D&B)<%0-'&0/&!&climate of prohibition that has never and will never work.

War on asylum seeker boats

Even more troubling, in recent times we have quite literally declared war on asylum seeker boats and called in the navy to stop them. The real victims of this war are the most vulnerable people alive today; asylum seekers. Under the secrecy of an operational war footing, who knows how many more have died at sea? Certainly one has died in our custody and many more have been brutalised by thugs hired to maintain security in our concentration camps on Manus Island and Nauru. Again, blithely declaring war reaps a

harvest of destruction, and it fails even to begin to address our obligations to respond to those legitimately seeking asylum on our shores.

Let ANZAC Day go &2&)$%&#$%&)&'"++"0&%)(& to celebrate

In light of these kinds of outcomes from the revitalisation of the ANZAC myth, I add my voice to that of those who are calling for the centenary of Gallipoli next year to be the last time we celebrate ANZAC Day, and the time when we lay to rest the ANZAC myth.U'$&+'!==$/7$&#'$/&0-&#)&./1&

a day to celebrate what really should matter to us as a nation. PD& 1%$!F& 0-& #)& ./1& !& 1!D&that focuses us on peace with justice, mercy and inclusion as the basis of our future as a nation; the very things I believe lie in the heart of God, not just for Australians but for all people. The obvious

day for that would be ‘Sorry Day’, already established to a cknowledge our need still to face honestly the injustices of our past and to move towards a better future for all Australians. To build on the 2008 apology to )<%&.%-#&/!#0)/-&by Kevin Rudd on behalf of the whole nation would certainly 3$&!&.##0/7&,!D&to commit to repentance for old wrongs and to make a new beginning.Ironically, as

historian HenryR e y n o l d s

points out, as we have #%0$1& #)& ./1& )<%& 01$/#0#D& !- a nation in an act of war, we forget our nation did begin with a war; a war declared on peoples we said did not even exist. It is not until we acknowledge this and repent of the hypocrisy explicit in it that ,$& +!/& ')($& #)& ./1& !& /$,&foundation for peace with justice, mercy and inclusion in Australia.It may be a dream on my part

for there to be a new central national day of celebration to replace ANZAC Day, but I maintain that Sorry Day, within the context of Reconciliation Week, certainly provides an appropriate perspective for the future of our nation. What better than to build a nation on ideals and values that are not only universally !".%F$1& !-& #%<$& #)& #'$& '<F!/&spirit at its best, but also consistent with what as V'%0-#0!/-& ,$& !".%F& #)& 3$&close to the heart of God?.

Page 10 The Gippsland Anglican June 2014

1!-+$"'-!.&)-&.!23!4+/5 TGAFrom the President’s Synod Address

The Reverend Phyllis Andy after the Synod Eucharist

St Paul‘s Korumburra

by Bishop John McIntyre

The removal of the carbon tax is a further troubling

development under this government. The reality is that carbon pricing is a means both to encourage people to be more energy­wise and to look to sources for power generation other than burning non­renewable fossil fuels. The carbon tax, designed as

a prelude to a carbon­pricing scheme, was working. More and more people have been reducing their energy usage and have taken up offers for alternative ways to generate power, especially by solar panels on public and private buildings. More and more money has been going into research around more viable alternatives to power production than by burning fossil fuels, such as solar and wind power. There is no reason, other than an ideological one, and perhaps complicity with mining and oil and gas companies, for this government to stop moving towards a carbon­pricing scheme.The irony is that while most

world economies are building carbon­pricing into their economic structures, Australia may well be left out in the cold economically if we do not do

the same. If the international economic system ultimately assumes a carbon price and we do not, how will we participate in it?Added to this, it seems that

most expert opinion suggests the so­called ‘Direct Action’ scheme of this government will not work in achieving the targets it claims achievable in reducing carbon dioxide emissions, and that it is not properly costed.

Fracking and brown coal allocations

In Gippsland itself, two issues remain critical to the future of farming in our communities: fracking and brown coal allocations.Already you have heard

through the communications of the diocese a fair bit about fracking or hydraulic fracturing, enough for me not to need to %$($!#& #'$& -07/0.+!/#& 0--<$-& 0#&raises for Gippsland’s highly productive agricultural industry .I encourage you all to stay

abreast of developments in

this area of concern and to join with others such as the organisers of the ‘Lock the Gate’ movement to ensure ongoing local action against those committed to fracking in Gippsland. I am certainly pleased to see the Victorian Government is consulting

widely on the potential impact of fracking in Gippsland. Their fundamental concern about the impact on our water systems is certainly a central concern for us all.Brown coal allocations are

in some ways more troubling than fracking. Under this arrangement, the Victorian Government offers funding for industry groups to develop ideas for the use of brown coal in the allocation zone of the Latrobe Valley and surrounds, stretching from Moe to Gormandale, where only a relatively small percentage of the brown coal present has so far been mined. These groups do not need a

mining licence but simply an idea for how the coal might be used. If the idea is considered viable, an allocation of coal is then made to the group. The land under which that coal sits is currently farming land, and the farmers who own that land have no recourse to prevent the coal allocation being made. Their farms can simply be sold out from under them.

This means that those farmers are on land that no­one else is likely ever to buy for farming purposes. Furthermore, there is little point in them investing in further development of their current agricultural businesses because at any time their land could be gone to an allocation.

This is another issue about which we must be vigilant in support of farmers and residents in Gippsland, especially as both State and Federal Governments are keen to develop new possibilities for the use of brown coal as a means of job creation for Gippsland, and are therefore very supportive of the scheme.

June 2014 The Gippsland Anglican Page 11

TGA

The carbon tax was workingFrom the President’s Synod Address

Written by the wealthy and powerful to appease the

wealthy and powerful, those who will suffer from the recommendations in the Commission of Audit are the poorest and the most vulnerable members of Australian society.Explicit in this document

is a threat to any equity in our pension system; the destruction of the minimum wage; the effective dismantling of Medicare, one of the best universal health care systems in the world; the privatisation of more government services,

including those that are income producing for government, and demands for those who +!//)#&./1&,)%6&0/&#'$0%&=)+!=&community to be forcibly moved or receive no dole, further destroying community support for those most vulnerable in our society. The poor, the aged, the unwell, those in the public education system, struggling families, the unemployed, and those who more and more will become the working poor, are being asked to bear the greater burden in the radical changes proposed by this commission.

It is arguable this is one of the most arrogant, cynical, ideologically driven government agendas this nation has ever witnessed. For us as Christians, if

my earlier analysis of what it means to be church is anywhere near the mark (see p 2), that is, if allegiance to Jesus Christ is tied to seeking peace with justice; showing mercy; being inclusive, and most especially of those most vulnerable and disenfranchised in our communities, I believe it our duty to let our voices be heard in response.

Commission of Audit, federal budget 2014­2015Before reading the following comments on the Commission of Audit, Bishop John noted that his address was necessarily written before the handing down of the federal budget, but the budget will be putting in place what is in the Audit.

Hills near Korumburra Photo: Jan Down

by Jan Down

What makes a retired clergyman turn to writing children’s

.+#0)/W& Tom and Anna on the Trail – the case of the missing school girl was written by the Rev. Jim Connelly, who lives in Warragul. Jim explains, “I’ve dealt with

words all my life, as a teacher, a head­master, a clergyman and a retired clergyman. Words have been a theme running through my life”.So it wasn’t hard to write,

but it was “absolutely new”. Jim had not written for children before, nor had he written .+#0)/2& 5<#& )/$& F)%/0/7& X& 0/&fact Jim remembers precisely that it was 5th June last year – he woke up with an idea in his mind, and saw that it could make a good children’s story. He started writing the same day.Tom and Anna is a story about

two very observant children of upper primary school age who are best friends and like riding their bikes around together. When a migrant girl, fairly new to the country, fails to arrive at school one morning, and the police are at a loss to know how #)&./1&'$%?&U)F&!/1&8//!&#!6$&on the case.The book clearly belongs in

the genre of mysteries solved by children without the help of adults, though Jim was not a particular fan of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five stories. Tom and Anna was simply a story that arose in his mind.U'$& .%-#& 1%!"#& )"& #'$& 3))6&

,!-& ./0-'$1& 0/& ")<%& ,$$6-?&with a lot of editing and re­writing happening afterwards. Jim wrote it on computer at the kitchen table, taking breaks to do other things whenever he needed to. He says he “wrote pretty hard. It was so exciting. It was an exhilarating process”. He adds “I’ve always got to have a project or I get melancholy”.Y'$/& '$& ./0-'$1& #'$& 3))6?&

he sat down and wrote another one straight away. The second 3))6& 0-& /),& ./0-'$1?& !/1& #'$&third one is half done. Jim found that new ideas “popped up quite easily”. It seems as though once the writing impulse was released, it just took off. There will be three books in the Tom and Anna series; other plots are now occurring for different books.

Jim found that as he was writing, the characters began to “take over and write the story”. In Tom he “found a voice” he could speak through. This made it easy to strike the right voice for the novel, as it is ,%0##$/& 0/& #'$& .%-#&person, with Tom as narrator. He found the style came naturally, though he was s o m e t i m e s conscious of technique, such as not having too many adverbs. Although Jim

has dealt with words all his life, '$& ")</1& ,%0#0/7& .+#0)/& 4$%D&10""$%$/#2& KU'$& #'0/7& B),-2&You’re not sure what’s going to happen next.” He says that when writing reports or sermons KD)<&-#!%#&"%)F&!&.J$1&()0/#&!/1&work downwards, whereas with a novel you’re working along”. For anyone older (or young

for that matter) who has always wanted to write, but has never quite got around to it, Jim is something of an inspiration: he '!-& (<3=0-'$1& '0-& .%-#& 3))6& !#&the age of 80!For Jim to be writing for

children is not so surprising when you understand that he was a schoolteacher for about 30 years, worked as a parish minister, and is now surrounded by grandchildren. The book is dedicated to two of them – Lucy and Charlotte. The grandchildren have read the book and enjoyed it, and Jim says that adults seem to like it as much as children do.Tom and Anna on the Trail is

!&FD-#$%D& -#)%D&.%-#&)"& !==?& 3<#&there are underlying themes. Jim describes it as having “Christian themes, without being overtly Christian”. Anna is from a church­going family, and won’t miss church on E</1!D?& $4$/& #)&'$=(&U)F&./1&Soraya, the missing girl. Soraya comes from an Iranian migrant family and they are depicted as friendly, kind and generous. Tom and Anna are likewise shown as kind and accepting of a different culture.Jim says it is “an old­

fashioned book”, without the “toilet humour” so common in modern children’s stories. He

is not a great fan of modern trends in children’s literature, especially “the grubby side”. The book has its humour though, and it is done with a light touch, while often being used to get a subtle message across. Tom and Anna on the Trail

was originally accepted for publication, but the day before Jim was due to go and sign the contract, the publisher withdrew the offer, saying their publication list was full. So Jim, being understandably “fed up”, decided to have the book printed by IngramSpark, an Australian 3%!/+'& )"& !/& 8F$%0+!/& .%F&which prints to order.The book can be printed in

Australia, the US or Britain, and is available all over the world as either a paperback or an e­book. Jim is grateful for help with the technical side of publishing from his friend, Mark Biggs, who has also recently published a book, Above and Beyond (see the May issue of TGA).Half the proceeds from the

sale of the books will be donated to the Bishop’s Children’s Appeal, which is run by Anglicare. The recently held book launch was a great success, with 80 – 100 people attending and about 100 books sold. Tom and Anna can now be purchased on­line through Amazon; directly from the author by emailing ajcon@dcsi.net.au or by asking a book shop to order it in.Jim sees his writing as “a late

discovery of a God­given talent I’ve always had”. It clearly gives him a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction to be using that gift from God.

Page 12 The Gippsland Anglican June 2014

Diocesan calendar

June

11 6:00 pm Solemn Eucharist at St. Luke’s Moe To celebrate the Rev. John Goodman’s 60th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood (details page 5)

15 2:30 pm Deconsecration of the Church of the Holy Trinity at Moe, with Eucharist celebrated by Bishop John McIntyre (details page 5)

21 11:00 am Anam Cara Community Annual Thanksgiving Service St Mary’s Morwell

21 7:30 pm for 8:00 pm start – The Great Debate: “Is Jesus/God relevant for today?” at Loch Masonic Hall (details page 9)

29 The 2nd Annual Jindivick Antique and Collectables Fair (details page 8)

30 until 3 July General Synod, St Peter’s College, Adelaide

July

19 9:30 am – 3:30 pm Anam Cara Community Quiet Day – St Mary’s Mirboo North

August

TGA

Finding a VoiceThe Arts In Gippsland

!"#$%&'()*+,$%"-,+."+.'"/'&0"1,2"3$%%'4456"7()+8+,2'"*9+.$("$:"*"%$&'4":$(";(,2*(58*<'="#.,4=('%

ABBEY CENTRE FOR SPIRITUALITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT WINTER PROGRAM for details phone: 5156 6580 or email: info@theabbey.org.au

2 The Writers’ Workshop with Sue Forham: How to write an effective story to grip the reader

9­10 Photography Workshop with Robert McKay – for beginners or experienced photographers

16 Creating Art and Craft, with Jill Ellis, Marie Cox, Sue Fordham and June Treadwell

23 The Cathedral: exploring the architecture, construction, stained glass, and music in the Gothic cathedral

Jim Connelly and his granddaughter Lucy

The arts in Gippsland