Canberra Quakers Newsle�er— September 2015
Canberra Quakers The newsletter of the Religious Society of Friends, Canberra Region September 2015
Advertising at Canberra Airport by Arms Manufacturers
At the August Meeting for Worship for Business, it
was decided to support the group of concerned citi-
zens, the ‘No Airport Arms Ad Group’, which is devel-
oping a campaign against prominent arms advertising
at Canberra airport.
The group’s coordinator is Sue Wareham of the Medi-
cal Association for the Prevention of War (Australia).
Activity has greatly increased in August, with the de-
velopment of an online petition and planning of the
launch of the campaign on Saturday 29 August. (See
page 5 for details).
Friends are encouraged to go to the launch of the
campaign in Civic Square to show support. Susan
Rockliff is the Quaker contact person, and is pictured
making the banner for the launch. �
Speaking of the Editor,
WANTED—EDITOR FOR CRM NEWSLETTER
I began edi5ng the CRM newsle6er late in 2012 –
November I think – and will lay down this responsi-
bility with the December 2015 edi5on.
I was helped by the previous editor John Symond,
who had assembled useful files of essen5al items,
such as children’s birthdays, an Advices & Queries
schedule (long since expired) and various items “for
spare spaces”. I have gradually developed confi-
dence in my “editorial style”, such as it is, and have
received lots of posi5ve and encouraging feedback
from Canberra F/friends. I have also relied on the
proof reading of Erica Fisher, who claims to “love it”,
and any mistakes which occasionally make it
through are my own. The distribu5on has been un-
dertaken by others: (CONTINUED page 8)
2 Canberra Quakers Newsle�er— September 2015
The QSA newsle6er, Issue No. 5 July 2015, contains a
report on the recent study tour to India. “Four
Friends, Katherine, Bee, Acey and Wies from New
South Wales joined Jackie Perkins on a regular moni-
toring visit to projects in Tamil Nadu. They were able
to learn about the work of QSA for themselves, to
meet the project partners and par5cipants, and also
to see something of the environment where the pro-
jects are being run.”
We visited a number of groups working collec5vely to
generate an income, benefiFng from peer support
and the bargaining power of increased numbers.
Acey reported feeling ‘moved and humbled’ by the
Keseva Nayakkau Palayam Village self-help group
who were producing spirulina but thought first of
suppor5ng the ’undernourished students at the local
school, before making calcula5ons about their loan
repayments and profits to the group of investors’.
The final paragraph of the report reads:
The Impact of this project
At a mee�ng with about 25 women leaders, Wies
asked what the husbands think of their wives becom-
ing educated, understanding the finances of their
business, having an income all year round and at
�mes earning more money than their husbands. This
ques�on caused much animated discussion between
them in Tamil and the answer that came back to us
was, that the husbands now understand that the
women do not use the money for themselves, they
use the money for health care for the family, educa-
�on for the children and to build a new house for the
family. We were shown evidence of this. Having three
cows that are in good health provides enough income
for a family to keep their children in school and, a,er
their educa�on has been paid for, to save up to re-
place the thatched house with a dirt floor with a brick
house.
If you would like to be part of future study tours to
Tamil Nadu, Cambodia or Uganda, for a mix of seeing
WAGGA WAGGA RECOGNIZED MEETING
CORRESPONDENT’S REPORT
Dear Friends, Following are the notes for the mee5ng held in
Wagga on 16th August.
Present: Robin Lindsay, Michael Bayles, Stephen
Hodgkin, Kay
de Vogel, Geraldine Mar5n, Janet Wild, Tessa
Bremner, Hamideh
Mahssolbaiki and Andrew Gradon.
Apologies: Mark Macleod and Dianne Heath.
We were pleased to welcome such a big gathering
including Kay and Stephen
from Canberra and Janet and Hamideh to their
first Quaker mee5ng. Tessa
brought Hamideh, a lovely young mother from
Iran to whom she is teaching
English.
We tabled correspondence about the planned visit
of Zelie Gross to Canberra
in September and the preregistra5ons for the No-
vember Residen5al Weekend
at Silver Wa6le.
Kay brought a range of booklets and pamphlets
from Canberra for which we are very grateful. She
also informed us of the new books at Canberra
Mee5ng library which we may borrow.
Tessa spoke about her experience of talking about
Quakers and the first
World War.
We had a discussion on Advices and Queries 6.11
from "this we can say"
page 300. Next month we will discuss Advices
and Queries 6.12 and 6.13
from "this we can say" page 300 and 301.
We then adjourned to a local eatery for some deli-
cious winter fare.
Andrew Gradon
QUAKER SERVICE AUSTRALIA
3 Canberra Quakers Newsle�er— September 2015
the projects for yourself, meeting project partner
staff and participants, and having some fun, please
let Jackie Perkins know via the QSA office.
How Canberra Meeting has recently helped
Money raised by the midwinter musical afternoon
went towards deepening the well shaft to supply wa-
ter to two QSA projects in Tamil Nadu, South India:
watering of thousands of indigenous tree seedlings
that are being planted by the project partner Ver-
sandham Environmental Resource Centre, to extend
the indigenous tropical dry evergreen forest; and
growing vegetables, grain and herbs to make a
healthy drink for undernourished school children and
elderly people. Mardi Naulty
Thousands of young trees grown from locally har-
vested seeds have been planted with financial help
from Australian Quakers. Photo taken with permis-
sion by QSA.
Right: Spirulina is grown by the group at Keseva
Nayakkau Palayam Village. Photo: QSA
Below: School children receiving their healthy
drink which is made up of locally grown vegeta-
bles and grains, and spirulina, a spiral shaped al-
gae rich in vitamins and minerals. Photo taken
with permission by QSA.
For more informa5on about QSA and its work, and how you might be able to assist , go to h6p://qsa.org.au
4 Canberra Quakers Newsle�er— September 2015
The following extract is from Philip Harnden (2003)
Journeys of simplicity: traveling light with Thomas
Merton, Basho, Edward Abbey, Annie Dillard & others
(Vermont, Skylight Paths Publishing), pp.34-35
Father Terence
Irish Catholic priest and Cistercian hermit on the
coast of Australia, in Bruce Chatwin’s book The Song-
lines
About author Bruce Chatwin (1942-1989) it has been
said,
“He travelled light, and there was nothing—except
friendship—he wasn’t prepared to leave behind.”
Chatwin describes Father Terence:
“He was a short man with reddish hair, what was leQ
of it, and not too many flaky brown teeth. He
wrapped the teeth in a hesitant smile …
“He was working on a book of his own. It would be a
‘manual of poverty.’ He hadn’t yet decided on a 5tle.
“Today, he said, more than ever before, men had to
learn to live without things. Things filled men with
fear: the more things they had, the more they had to
fear. Things had a way of rive5ng themselves on to
the soul and then telling the soul what to do.
“He poured the tea into two red enamel mugs. It was
dark and scalding. We sat a minute or two un5l he
suddenly broke the silence: “Isn’t it wonderful? To
live in this wonderful twen5eth century? For the first
5me in history, you don’t need to own a thing.”
Where Father Terence Lived
On the shores of the Timor Sea
on a dune of floury white sand
in a hermitage
cobbled from corrugated sheet
whitewashed
walls guyed with cables against the wind
above the roof, a cross
made from broken oar lashed together
black rubber flippers, snorkel, mask
swimming for hours along the reef
with the shark
every evening at the typewriter
letters to friends all over the world
a long correspondence
with a Zen Buddhist monk
in Japan
then, the lamp
reading into the night
seven years.
Joan Kelle6 and Wilma Davidson Roberta Turner and Tim Johnstone
At ANZAC CONVERSATIONS 2, June 2015
5 Canberra Quakers Newsle�er— September 2015
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL QUAKER PEACE AND LEGISLATION
COMMITTEE
ANZAC CONVERSATIONS: VOICES OF
THOSE WHO GAVE MILITARY SERVICE
The third in a series of conversa�ons to mark the anniver-
sary of World War I and the lessons learned. The series is
supported by a grant from the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
GUY HANSEN, director of exhibi5ons at the Na5on-
al Library of Australia, will explore the way in which
the voices of those who served in WW1 have been
represented through le6ers, diaries, mementos and
photos in the exhibi5on Keepsakes at the Library
this year. The exhibi5on showed how the personal
experiences of soldiers, nurses, poli5cians, ar5sts,
writers and families at home became our collec5ve
memory.
GRAHAM WALKER AM, a veteran of the Vietnam
war, was this year awarded the AM for his many
years spent as a researcher and author on war vet-
eran’s issues, and for his advocacy for disabled vet-
erans and their families. His focus has been on help-
ing veterans rebuild their lives, and on reminding
everyone (especially governments) that the cost of
war does not end with the warriors’ homecoming.
GARY OAKLEY, na5onal president of the Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Veterans and Service Asso-
cia5on, will share something of the unique perspec-
5ve of Indigenous people who have par5cipated in
war, and the impact of the experience on them and
their communi5es.
SUNDAY 30 AUGUST 2015
2.00—5.00 pm
FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE Corner of Condamine and Bent Streets, Turner.
Refreshments provided
Enquiries to: [email protected]
6 Canberra Quakers Newsle�er— September 2015
CRM DISCUSSION FOLLOWING ALL AGE
MEETING FOR WORSHIP HELD ON
28 JUNE 15
The following notes were taken and compiled by Jen-
ny Turton, Children and JYF Coordinator for Australia
Yearly Mee5ng
Worship sharing
The Mee5ng for Worship felt like a strong life
force and wonderful poten5al, like the acorn I
chose
CRM has the giQ of a large community and a large
number of children and families. It was won-
derful to be here worshipping together
I felt really nourished by all the contribu5ons. It
was a feast for the spirit
I feel very grateful, as I have never been in a situa-
5on before where the crea5ve symbolism was
unleashed. I felt less lonely in sharing this. I
have felt lonely psychologically and spiritually
in the past in Mee5ng for Worship
Some of the hardest 5mes in my life have been
helped by having children around. It was love-
ly having the li6le children
The thought of being involved with children gives
me a sense of purpose and joy. At 70 years of
age I had thought that life was going downhill
from here on. I would like to be involved and
make a contribu5on
I felt really blessed this morning. I have only par-
5cipated in all age worship at YM and Edin-
burgh. It gave me a sense of comfort. The chil-
dren seemed so at home. Many children have
more experience of Quaker worship than us.
They shared their wisdom with us
I am enormously grateful to the people whose
careful love and planning gave me such a spe-
cial experience. I am aware that not all had
the same response and may not be here now,
and I want to keep them in my heart
At the age of 83 I do charity work for the children
of the future. Thank you for this experience
Children have such clarity that we lose touch with
as we get older. We have so much to learn
from them
It is healthy for us to open up a tradi5onal form of
worship. There are many different needs.
There is no right way. We need to try some-
thing, and to be open and honest. There were
moments that were incredibly gathered, and
others that were less so. With these sorts of
mee5ngs you never know if they are going to
work, and that is OK
I like to listen to the voices of the children. An
hour is a long 5me to stay in a controlled envi-
ronment. We probably can’t have all age wor-
ship too oQen because of the burden on the
children and those who have difficulty with
this form of worship
Feedback from the children
A couple of the adults spoke to the children over
morning tea. Most feedback came from the younger
children aged from 4 up to 13. They indicated that
they:
Liked being there
Liked being able to go in and out
Liked to draw
One worried that it was a bit long for the younger
children
They would like to have all age Mee5ng for Wor-
ship again
Discussion from the adults
Wilma will write an agenda item for RM for Busi-
ness on behalf of the Children’s Commi6ee
that there be an All Age Mee5ng for Worship
every 2 months, which would mean 6 Chil-
dren’s Mee5ngs and 6 All Age Mee5ngs a year
Tracy thinks that 6 All Age Mee5ngs a year is too
frequent. It is hard work for the kids. They like
being with their peers. (Con5nued page 10)
7 Canberra Quakers Newsle�er— September 2015
Children’s Birthdays
No child currently associated with
our meeting celebrates a birthday
in September.
However, we wish Aaron Toyne
(23.09.2001) many happy returns!
Aaron now lives in Melbourne with
his mother Molly Harriss Olson and
older brother
Atticus.
NEWS OF FRIENDS
Susan Clarke, of Queensland RM, Is living at 174
Widgiewa Road, Carwoola NSW 2620.
Jan Febey, of Tasmania RM, lives at 2 / 37 Printers
Way, Kingston ACT 2604, 6239 5651, 0419 374
290, [email protected].
We con5nue to hold Rosie Fleming in the Light.
Several Friends are helping her in this difficult 5me.
Cards are very welcome.
Carol Thornton's address in Bungendore is 74 Gi-
braltar Street, not Road.
Susan Rockliff and John Hawkins have been enjoy-
ing the company of their daughters Alexina (who is
currently living in Berlin) and Rosina, who has re-
cently returned safely from a month in Russia.
Our Friend asks, “What’s so special about fig trees?”
In St. Mark's Gospel (Chap.11; vs 12-14, v 20) there is
an interes5ng incident reported, which occurred as
Jesus and his disciples leQ Bethany to go to Jerusa-
lem. Jesus felt hungry, and seeing in the distance a fig
tree in leaf he went to see if he could find something
on it. But when he reached it, he found nothing but
leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to
the tree 'May no one ever again eat fruit from you!'
When they passed the tree again, on the way back to
Bethany, they saw the fig tree had withered from the
roots up.
The same incident is reported in St. Ma6hew's Gos-
pel (Chap. 21; vs 18-22). Jesus felt hungry, and seeing
a fig tree at the roadside, he went up to it, but found
nothing on it but leaves. He said to the tree 'May you
never bear fruit again!' and at once the tree withered
away.
St. Ma6hew also reports that the disciples were
amazed and asked 'How is it that the tree has with-
ered so suddenly?'. Jesus answered that 'if only you
have faith and have no doubts, you will do what has
been done to the fig tree'. According to St. Mark,
when the disciples saw the withered fig tree on their
way back, Peter recalled what had happened the pre-
vious day and said 'Rabbi, look, the fig tree which you
cursed has withered.' Jesus answered them 'Have
faith in God'. He went on to say 'I tell you, then,
whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have
received it and it will be yours.'
In St. Luke's Gospel (Chap. 13; vs 6-9) there is another
reference to a fig tree without fruit. Jesus told a para-
ble, in which a man had a fig tree growing in his vine-
yard; and he came looking for fruit on it, but found
none. So he said to the vine-dresser, 'For the past
three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig
tree without finding any. Cut it down. Why should it
go on taking goodness from the soil?'
But he replied 'Leave it, sir, for this one year, while I
dig around it and manure it. And if it bears next sea-
son, well and good; if not you shall have it down.'
So what was special about fig trees? And why did
Jesus destroy a living tree?
(Biblical texts from the Revised English Bible)
Erica Fisher
8 Canberra Quakers Newsle�er— September 2015
W h a t ’s h a p p e n i n g a t
S I LV E R WAT T L E Q UA K E R
C E N T R E ?
SILVER WATTLE QUAKER CENTRE LTD
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
Silver Wa6le Quaker Centre Ltd invites ex-
pressions of interest in serving on the Board
of Directors of the Company Silver Wa6le
Quaker Centre Ltd.. Formed in 2010, the Com-
pany is a private, not-for-profit Company Lim-
ited by Guarantee under the Corpora5ons Act
2001.
An object of the Company is to develop Silver
Wa6le Quaker Centre as a place to promote
social and religious educa5on, witness and
service. SWQC is a small conference centre
established on a former sheep grazing proper-
ty 12 km from Bungendore, NSW, on the
western shores of Weereewa (Lake George).
The business of the Company is managed by a
three to five member voluntary Board of Di-
rectors, each of whom will normally serve a
three year term. A lesser period may be nego-
5ated.
An an5cipated re5rement from the Board will
create a vacancy from 28/09/15
We would be pleased to hear from anyone
with enthusiasm for the ideals of Silver Wa6le
Quaker Centre and a commitment to foster
the on-going development of the Centre as a
place of spiritual nourishment, learning and
engagement.
Please contact Judy Henderson, Chair,
Silver Wa6le Advisory Commi6ee
Mobile phone: 0414 754 237
Email: [email protected]
(continued from page 1) WANTED: NEWSLETTER EDITOR
Stephen Hodgkin previously and now Michael Searle
emails the pdf file to F/friends, and Frank Watson pre-
viously and now Malcolm Whyte folds, labels, tapes
and stamps the hard copies which are posted to F/
friends after Meeting on the Sunday of distribution.
So, although I have put the newsletter together myself,
it has not been a solitary task. As editor of the newslet-
ter it is helpful if one either attends Quaker events
such as Friends Fridays, or makes sure that someone
else will take photos or write a “minute of record” suit-
able for the newsletter. For those who receive the dig-
ital version, it is in glorious colour. I recently investigat-
ed the cost of colour photocopying for the relatively
small number of hard copies. However, the cost is tru-
ly prohibitive: $5.60 per copy! Even a colour outside
leaf would be an additional $50 per month.
Stephen Hodgkin counselled me to try to keep the edi-
tion to 1MB, but was very understanding and accepting
when it often exceeded this size. This was largely due
to the inclusion of photos taken by me and others of
Canberra F/friends and events. The newsletter is also
distributed electronically to 175 different addresses,
and I think that photos may help to familiarise new-
comers with members of the mee5ng, or remind oth-
ers of Friends they may not have seen for a long 5me.
There was one patch – 2013 - when every front page
for several months, carried the photo of a Friend who
had died, and this too is an important memorial service
to our community.
I was quite keen to take up this role, as I had had previ-
ous experience edi5ng a newsle6er for a community
organisa5on, and was familiar with the MicrosoQ appli-
ca5on “Publisher”. Even so, every month I am chal-
lenged by some nuance in the program, but am geFng
more able to work it out. I am not a digital na5ve, so
take heart, if you are a poten5al editor with limited
experience of desktop publishing.
I can’t imagine doing this task with someone else, but
9 Canberra Quakers Newsle�er— September 2015
I’m sure it would be possible. I have to fit it into a
busy life, and it would be hard to find one or two
evenings in the last week before publica5on, to col-
laborate in person. So I have adjusted to doing it
myself. However, if someone were willing to assem-
ble the material, and another person to put it to-
gether, it might be possible.
I have found it to be a good way of geFng to know
F/friends, and to help advance the interests of the
Society in Canberra. As editor, I have been respon-
sive to the Mee5ng’s wish to give regular space to
Quaker Service Australia, and Peace & Earthcare tes-
5monies, and Silver Wa6le Quaker Centre. The fact
that we have had only one recipe – and that was
Peter Singer’s recipe for dhal – shows that there are
not many months when there are “spare spaces”.
It’s always good to have contribu5ons from individu-
al F/friends, in the form of book reviews, poetry,
travel logs, and the correspondents’ reports such as
from Wagga Wagga Recognized Mee5ng.
Nomina5ons Commi6ee has the task of finding an
editor for 2016 (star5ng with the February edi5on).
If you have the interest and skills, please think about
volunteering for this rewarding task.
Susan Rockliff
Report
LISTENING SPACE: SHARING STORIES
On Sunday aQernoon 16 August, around 40 people
a6ended the first of these events, set up by the Com-
mi6ee on Racial Equality (CORE) which is connected
with Canberra Mee5ng. The occasional series is intend-
ed to allow Aboriginal people to speak about their lives
and concerns. George Villaflor, an Aboriginal lawyer
based in Canberra, told us of his journey from a child-
hood living with the Wagiman people in Darwin, via
establishing the North Queensland Land Council, to
working on the care and protec5on of children in the
ACT. His theme was ‘The Des5ny of Aboriginal Peoples
Lies in the Life of the Na5on’. His approach has always
been to look for the signs of hope in every situa5on.
He first met Quakers through a couple (Brian and Jill
Robinson) who lived on Magne5c Island near
Townsville. In his view, there are 5mes in history when
the circumstances create opportuni5es for movement,
and the Mabo decision on Aboriginal land rights was
one such example. He showed a video from 1993 that
described the lifestyle of the Meriam people in Torres
Strait, and their excitement as a result of the High
Court ac5on. However, the Na5ve Title Act, by impo-
sing ar5ficial tests for achieving indigenous land rights,
has proved to be a distrac5on from true progress in
recognising that Aboriginal rights were never ex5nguis-
hed in common law. As a lawyer he feels that the law
needs refreshing in each genera5on if it is to serve its
true purpose for jus5ce. Careful strategy is vital for
change to occur, and it is best to prepare well for any
‘campaign’ so as to find the areas of law where modifi-
ca5ons are more likely. For example, the idea of co-
existence was used by advocates in Queensland to
affirm Aboriginal land rights in the face of a6empts to
ex5nguish them, and this led to judicial acknowledge-
ment that pastoral leases and Aboriginal rights could
exist together. On the ma6er of cons5tu5onal recogni-
5on, George feels that the country is not ready to
make the appropriate changes, as Australians need to
have a much greater depth of understanding about
how to include Aboriginal people in our society. This
requires more listening and learning across the cultural
divide.
David Purnell
Editor’s Acknowledgements
Thank you to all those F/friends who have con-tributed articles and information to this edition of the newsletter. Erica Fisher assisted with articles, and proof-read the copy. Michael Searle ar-ranged the mailing labels and electronic distribu-tion. Malcolm Whyte folds and mails the copies which are posted. All this assistance is much ap-preciated.
As a general rule, articles of up to 500 words are welcome. Unless otherwise acknowledged, the photos were taken by me. I welcome contribu-
tions at any time, but would prefer to receive
them by the last Sunday of the month. Thank
you!
10 Canberra Quakers Newsle�er— September 2015
Library Thing:
The CRM library catalog is online at
http://www.librarything.com/
catalog/CanberraFriends
NEW ACQUISITIONS IN THE LIBRARY
1. Anonymous, (2008) Quaker quotes: chosen by English
present-day Quakers. Tag: Introducing Quakers.
2. Robert Bolton, (1986) People Skills: How to assert your-
self, listen to others and resolve conflicts. Tag; Rela5onships.
3. Frank Brennan, (2015) No small change; the road to
recogni�on for Indigenous Australia. Tag: Indigenous Con-
cerns.
4. John W. Burton, (1996) Conflict Resolu�on: its language
and processes.
Tag: Copy 1: Pacifism Copy 2: Personal Growth.
5. Ben Pink Dandelion, (2014) Open for transforma�ons: be-
ing Quaker. Tag; 2014 Swarthmore Lecture.
6. Ben Pink Dandelion (2013) Making our connec�ons: a
spirituality of travel. Tag; Spiritual Paths.
7. Susanna de Vries. (2000/09). Blue Ribbons Bi�er Bread:
Joyce Loch, Australia’s most heroic woman. Tag: Quakers in
Australia.
8. Ted Egan. (2008) Due Inheritance; reviving the cultural
and economic well-being of First Australi-
ans. Tag: Indigenous Concerns.
9. Ted Egan, (1996) Jus�ce all their own: the Caledon Bay
and Woodah Island killings 1932-1933. Tag: Indigenous
Concerns.
10. Diana Francis. (2015) Faith, Power and Peace. Tag;
2015 Swarthmore Lecture.
11. Erich Fromm. (1973) The Anatomy of human destruc�ve-
ness. Tag: Personal Growth.
12. Jennifer Kavanagh. (2014) A Li�le Book of Unknow-
ing. Tag; Spiritual Paths.
13. Sian Rees. (2010) Sweet water and bi�er: the ships that
stopped the Slave Trade. Tag: Society.
14. Claude Anshin Thomas. (2004). At Hell’s Gate: a soldier’s
journey from war to peace. Tag: Reconcilia5on.
Thank you to the library workers, and to Kay de Vogel for
purchasing assistance.
June Garfit, Librarian
(con5nued from page 6) Maybe
once every 3 months would be suit-
able. That would keep it special.
We don’t want to overlay our ex-
pecta5ons on the children. Get the
children to guide the worship, as
this is powerful for them
The adults shared things vocally during
the Mee5ng for Worship, but not
the children. Why is this? I think it
is about permission, so it is im-
portant that the children are in-
volved in the planning
Adults can be quite abstract. Children
under 7 would have different things
to share
Tracy indicated that the Mee5ng for
Worship structure was modelled on
something children have done at
YM and Silver Wa6le, and they are
very good with metaphors and
symbols
The 4th
Sunday could be a planning
mee5ng if the All Age Mee5ng was
held on the 5th
Sunday
We don’t know what is going into kids.
They stop and listen when people
talk. We can plant seeds in them
Would like an outcome as to how we
increase input for single parents to
come again
How do we address the dual needs for
silence and ac5vity?
There is always another mee5ng at the
same 5me, that Friends can go to if
they don’t like All Age Mee5ngs
An 85 year old Friend walked home
aQer we went outside to gather
things, presumably because he
didn’t want to par5cipate in an All Age
semi-programmed Mee5ng
11 Canberra Quakers Newsle�er— September 2015
Perhaps this individual could be followed up by
the elders. We need to hear nega5ve feedback
as well as posi5ve feedback
The greeter can tell people as they arrive that
there is an All Age Mee5ng, and that there is
also a separate mee5ng if they prefer. Those
that are gree5ng need to be briefed about
what they can say
One person stayed away today knowing that All
Age Mee5ng was scheduled
Some Friends told Joan that they didn’t like the All
Age Mee5ng for Worship today. They said it
was noisy, there was too much ac5vity, and it
wasn’t quiet and contempla5ve
Would like the children to sing in mee5ng
We can remind Friends who are resistant to All
Age Mee5ngs about the queries about chil-
dren
Previously liked a na5vity ac5vity at Christmas
It may be good to remind people that it is s5ll
worship outside, and not a 5me for talking
It is OK to have some noise, as we are doing it
differently. We don’t want to be bossy. People
can hold the mee5ng
We need to model quiet contempla5ve worship. It
is OK if it goes back and forth between this
and the kids talking
Each child is different. When they are outside they
will release energy. When they came back in-
side they were in silence
Can we have something for the children to drink
at morning tea such as juice or hot chocolate?
We can give people a choice about where they
want to go, and have a note on the door
45 minutes may be long enough for All Age wor-
ship rather than 1 hour
Maybe the elder could take this on board and fin-
ish earlier if necessary
However, people like to know ahead of 5me how
long mee5ng will be
An elder and a young person could close the
mee5ng
Liked how Tracy repeated what Miles had said so
the rest of the mee5ng could hear, but told
him he had said it well
Does the mee5ng feel comfortable stepping in
when needed to support the parents? (eg.
when young children were playing with water)
Jenny Turton
DON’T FORGET TO REGISTER FOR …
Zelie Gross workshop on Thursday 3 September,
to learn the basic skills needed to facilitate any
Quaker learning ac5vity.
Zelie Gross workshop on Saturday 5 September
on an apprecia5ve enquiry explora5on focussed
on our own Quaker community.
Please register now for the full day workshops
(registra5on fee $10 per workshop) Contact David
Liversidge ([email protected]) or Lor-
raine Thomson (0405468154)
([email protected]) to register or for
further informa5on.
CANBERRA AND SOUTHERN NSW RESIDENTIAL
WEEKEND 27 – 29TH
NOVEMBER
AT SILVER WATTLE QUAKER CENTRE – ‘HOW DO
WE LET OUR LIVES SPEAK?’
We are planning to have a really interes5ng pro-
gram for all ages. So Children, JYFs and their fami-
lies are par5cularly welcome. There are struc-
tured, par5cipa5ve sessions, to make the most of
the theme, and more relaxed ac5vi5es, such as a
Labyrinth walk and a Silver Wa6le quiz, as well as
free 5me on Saturday aQernoon.
We ask that you commit to the whole weekend,
arriving by 5.00pm if possible on Friday, and we’ll
leave aQer the mid-day meal and clean-up by
2.00pm on Sunday.
Please direct your re-registraIons to ChrisIne
Larkin by Sunday 6th
September at
[email protected], or 02 – 6259 5078
12 Canberra Quakers Newsle�er— September 2015
HOSTING ROSTER FOR SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2015
September 2015 Pastoral Care co-ordinator Carol Thornton
6 Marie and Brian Harlech-Jones, Karin Schulz
13 Mary Rizk, David Liversidge, Pam Houstein
20 Chris Larkin, David Purnell, Alex Nicolson
27 Marka Selmes with Children’s MeeIng
28
October 2015 Pastoral Care co-ordinator Stewart BeLs
4 Margaret Moreton, Frank Watson, Arthur Davies
11 Gedda Fortey, Jeane Bicket, Cameron Gordon
18 Margaret Bearlin, Bluey Haig, Lorraine Thomson
25 Margaret Clark, Bob Douglas, Evan Gallagher
If a date won’t work for you, swap if you can with someone else
on the list already, and tell Heather Herbert that you have done it.
HosIng DuIes
These are described near the roster on the foyer no5ce
board. If you cannot come on the day, please arrange a
swap with someone else ASAP. Ideally, approach someone
rostered on another week.
Contact the others in your hos5ng team, before Sunday, to
arrange who will bring the flowers and the milk (usually 2
litres).
By custom, volunteers have paid for these items when it is
their turn on the roster. Other hos5ng expenses can be re-
imbursed from Mee5ng funds. Receipts should accompany
any claim to the Finance Commi6ee.
The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
PO Box 6063, O’Connor, ACT, 2602
Your Newsle6er Submissions
can be sent to the editor, Susan Rockliff
Email [email protected]
The publishing deadline is:
The first Sunday of each month.
MeeIngs for Worship Canberra Northside: cnr Condamine & Bent Streets Turner
9:15-9:45 Early Mee5ng for Worship
9:55 for 10:00-11:00 Main Mee5ng for Worship
Children’s Mee5ng on 4th
Sunday
MeeIng for Healing: last Sunday 9.00—10.00 am
Midweek MeeIng: Wednesday morning, 8.00—8.30 am
Canberra Southside: 2
nd & 3
rd Sunday, 8:30-9:10am, followed by a cuppa.
Seniors Centre, Tuggeranong Town Park. For direc5ons contact
Adie Price on 6161 0742
Young Friends An ac5ve group of Young Friends (16-30yo), including some with
children, gather regularly for meals and welcome newcomers.
Please contact: Stewart Be6s, 0409 674 791
Wagga Wagga Recognized MeeIng: 3rd Sunday at
10:30am, at Riverina Gums, 44 Dalman Parkway, Glenfield Park,
Wagga Wagga. Contact Michael Bayles on 0408 291 999
Bateman’s Bay: Contact Lesley on 4472 2768
Goulburn: At 10 Cole Street, 3rd Sunday of the month 4.00pm
Mee5ng for Worship. Contact, Raina Emerson on 4821 9434
Bega Valley Recognized MeeIng: Bega Valley Friends meet on the second Sunday (loca5on varies)
and last Sunday of the month at Mumbulla School, cnr Parker and
Bega Streets, Bega at 10.30am. Also meets on the second
Wednesday at 10am in the home of Jeanie Gough - please call
ahead 6494 7530 Contact person: Peggy Storch (02) 6492 6379
Silver WaLle Quaker Centre: Mee5ngs for Worship are on the 2
nd Sunday of the month.
Enquiries: Tracy Bourne (6238 0588).