Crosslight Articles 2011

Each month we highlight acts of generosity that are taking place in different communities within the Victorian and Tasmanian Synod. They are featured in Crosslight and can be used again to help spread the spirit of generosity in your community.

Healing Horses

November

Pairing a troubled horse with a troubled person seems like an unlikely mix to achieve a positive result, but Colin Emonson of Horses for Hope believes it’s the perfect combination to instil renewed trust in the world – for both parties.

Mr Emonson has worked with families and youth for more than 30 years. He is passionate about finding new ways to reach out to ‘at-risk’ people and those who don’t benefit from traditional counselling.

Along with Tiffany Peverall, Mr Emonson pioneered the equine-assisted program in Shepparton which sees about 200 participants pass through each year, ranging in ages from three to 66 years.

Mr Emonson said it’s a unique program as there is no riding involved and it uses troubled horses which is also quite unusual.  “There are a lot of equine assisted therapeutic programs around the world but using troubled horses is the key,” he said.  

According to Horses for Hope, horses pick up on what a person is feeling and respond accordingly. If a person with anger-management issues approaches a horse and it senses anger, it will react in a negative way. In order to settle the horse down, the person needs to face their own emotions and find a way to control them to get a positive response.

Horses for Hope work with a range of people, from refugees to prisoners and students who have fallen through ‘the gap’ of the education system. The team also goes out to Kinglake two days a week to work with bushfire victims – who mostly use their own horses.

“The horse is the tool by which people engage with their feelings and are forced to regulate them,” Mr Emonson said. “This is not just about people being helped − they become a helper.”

The young girl pictured was 14 years old at the time and was not attending school due to behavioural difficulties. “In the horse-yard she was able to find the capacity to work with horses in a very special way.” Mr Emonson said. “After some time she was able to apply these skills to how she related to people and, as a result, the future is now a lot brighter for her.”

 

Having your cake and sharing it too

October

WHEN you step into a travel agent, the whole world opens up before you. Where could you visit next? What adventures will you encounter? What people will you meet? Will there be love, good food, lost luggage, sunbathing by the sea? Will I learn about a culture that I’ve never heard about before? Will I come back a different person?

There are endless possibilities when choosing where to go on your next holiday. Sometimes there are too many options. But what if you could make your decisions based on how it could benefit somebody else? You may be thinking, ‘But the point of going on a holiday is to not think about anybody but myself and just have a good time!’ And yet, there could be a way to do both.

 

According to Rhonda Sutton, UCAF Responsible Travel Advocate for Commission for Mission, it’s okay to have your cake and eat it too. The key is to educate yourself about where the money you’re spending is going – and making decisions accordingly.

 

For instance, when you travel to a developing country and stay at a chain hotel or resort, the profits are most likely leaving the country – even if local staff is employed there. But Ms Sutton says this doesn’t mean you have to stay at a backpacker’s hostel. “There are all levels of community-based accommodation. I remember staying at a French colonial style hotel which was beautiful and the money was going back to HIV affected people in the area.”

 

The key is research and if you really love resorts, mix up the rest of the trip. “Even you stay at those places, everyone can make a bit of effort, you could go buy food from a market or eat at a locally owned restaurant,” Ms Sutton suggested. “You can travel responsibly at any level. No matter how you travel take every opportunity to consciously think, ‘is the money I’m spending getting directly into the hands of someone who needs it?’”

 

There are also added benefits to travelling responsibly, as Ms Sutton described in a trip she went on to Cambodia last year. “My husband and I stayed in a lovely little village where they’ve set up a Community Based Tourism Initiative (CBTI) training women as chefs. They had a pool of tour guides and home stays – so each person got a turn of hosting and feeding us. We spent a total of $75 for the three days!”

 

So where should people start if they’re wanting to make the switch to ethical tourism?

 

“You can start by asking your travel agent what the ethical options are.” Ms Sutton said. “And doing an internet search for ‘community based tourism’. It’s not always easy; you’re not going to be able to do it every time.”

 

Ms Sutton is currently working on a website that will list a range of options for travelling ethically when choosing accommodation, shopping and eating locales overseas. The picture featured was taken during her visit to the Cambodian CBTI.

 

She is currently preparing to lead a trip to Thailand where the group will stay at a Mae Kampong CBTI. “People in this beautiful mountainside village were suffering because they could no longer make a living from their tea plantations. Their decision to open quaint riverside home stays and conduct various activities for tourists has injected much needed cash into their community.” Ms Sutton said. “It is now thriving”.

 

For more information on the upcoming trips or to find out more about responsible travelling, visit: http://responsibletravel.org.au/

 

More than a child of a migrant  

September

SECOND generation kids in Australia, may come from varying cultures but often have one thing in common.

According to The Cross Cultural Mission and Ministry (CCMM) unit’s director Don Ikitoelagi, children of migrants often struggle with the issue of identity. “They question who they are and are constantly trying to find balance between parents’ expectations of keeping traditional values within the family, and wanting to be more Australian so they can fit in.” 

For this reason the CCMM unit holds a retreat every year to bring all the second generation leaders of UC ethnic congregations together, to help them bond and feel unified.

The camp focuses on teaching practical leadership skills from a broader perspective and then homing in on the specific needs of each ethnic group.

“We run the camp to create networks, to worship together, and to help the leaders feel like they have a team behind them,” Mr Ikitoelagi said. “Even if they feel alone in their cultural abyss – at least they know other people around them are having a similar experience.”

Mr Ikitoelagi explained that although children of migrants are eager to fit in with Australian cultural norms, their children are often the ones who want to explore their heritage and embrace their culture of origin. “This causes a problem because second generation migrants have often lost a part of their culture by trying to fit in, so then they can’t pass it on to their children − hence a part of their culture dies in the process.”

So how does this fit in with church leadership from a cross cultural perspective?

“We try to encourage second generation leaders to focus on identity in Christ, and telling their youth that − though their surroundings may change and there are varied cultural influences in their life – who they really are stays the same in God. This then frees them to embrace the aspects of their cultural heritage that they are proud of and merge into the Australian one as they feel comfortable.”

Nine congregations were represented in the 40 plus people that attended the camp in 2010, including: Samoan, Fijian, Indonesian and Tongan. Team building exercises such as the race featured in the photo were among the many activities held over the weekend. 

Every man's shed

August

WHEN you step into the men’s shed in Hamilton, where you come from no longer matters. All you need is a willingness to pick up a tool and to get involved in the workshop.

“It’s a very laid back environment,” Rev Allan Leggett, the program coordinator and regional minister said. “We have people there with trade qualifications working alongside men who have never picked up a hammer in their lives.”

When Mr Leggett took up his position as a Uniting Church minister in the area the need in Hamilton was clear. “Many of the men that move here are farmers who have been active all their lives and don’t know what to do with themselves anymore,” he said.

Mr Leggett, along with Hamilton congregation member Keith Haines and a committee began planning the men’s shed, a move that was embraced by many people in the community. After receiving $8,000 from a local businessman, they were able to open it in March 2008.

But the support didn’t stop there. In mid-2009, when the flat attached to the rear of the shed became vacant, the owner offered to sell the whole of the complex to the committee.

“We were offered a reasonable price,” Mr Leggett said, “but we still didn’t have the money.” They went back to the Hamilton community and within about two months had raised $150,000 to purchase it outright “thanks to some philanthropic gentlemen and the local service clubs,” he added.

The men’s shed is open every Wednesday and Thursday, and creates a space for up to 35 retired men, where they can tinker with tools, feel connected and give back to the community. Among the many activities that take place, the men make furniture and do repairs for locals that would otherwise be very expensive. 

“The men’s shed is a real god send,” Mr Leggett said. “I often get feedback like, ‘I wouldn’t know what I’d be doing with my life if I wasn’t here’.”

The Men’s Shed model is backed by Beyond Blue and is spreading internationally to New Zealand and England. With over 500 Men’s Sheds registered, the Australian Men’s Shed Association is now the largest Association in Australia focussed on male health and well-being.

It runs in the family

July

 

WHEN it comes to giving back to the community, Peter Thompson from UCA Funds Management is all about taking baby steps.

The first step was getting his two teenage daughters out of bed early on a Sunday morning. But Alexandra and Sarah (aged 18 and 15) accompanied the family, including wife Trudy and 12-year-old son Henry, to take part in Run Melbourne 2010. "One of the great things about the fun run is that anyone can participate, regardless of fitness." You can walk, run and choose your preferred distance." Mr Thompson said.

Mr Thompson initially thought the run would be a great thing for his family to do together. "The whole family is pretty active and we enjoy running," he said. "The night before, everyone was primed and ready to go. Come morning, let's just say the girls might have preferred more beauty sleep," he laughed.

Son Henry (pictured) was one of the younger enthusiasts. "He bounced out of bed and was ready to go. He was even happy to skip his usual Sunday morning basketball training so he could take part." The family chose Hotham Mission Asylum Seeker Project as their nominated charity. "In all we managed to raise a few hundred dollars amongst family and friends," Mr Thompson said.

Run Melbourne is sponsored by The Age and is taking place again on 17 July 2011. For more information or entry forms visit http://runmelbourne.com.au

 

A free kick in life

May

IN many small towns throughout Victoria and Tasmania, the local football team is often the focal point of community activity. From littlies scrambling for the footy in Auskick to dads reliving glory days in veterans’ football, local ovals surrounded by cars and spectators are a common sight in winter.

When Rev Margaret Russell and her husband John moved to Donald seven years ago, one of the first things they noticed was the lack of young people in their congregation. “We decided we needed to take the church to the people,” Mr Russell said. “And the people were at the local football ground.” Mr Russell approached UC funds to see if they were interested in sponsoring an under-14s and under 16s football teams. The Donald under-14s and under-16s football teams now wear shirts that read “Youth free kick program”.

Donald UC have also sponsored several other sports teams in and around Donald, giving youth what Mr Russell describes as “a free kick in life”. Mr Russell is now the chaplain to the local football club. “It’s been a privilege to share the love of God in a different way during times of grief and tragedy.” The sports chaplaincy program has been so successful that Mr Russell has been asked to extend the program throughout regional Victoria. It also caught the attention of the Victorian Country Football League’s (VCFL) CEO Glen Scott.

“I’m delighted with the work that Mr Russell has done in the life of our football clubs,” Mr Scott said. “He has made a significant difference in the lives of members and their families.” Mr Scott recently met with the Minister for Sport and Recreation, The Hon Hugh Delahunty, about more funding to increase the program and train more chaplains. Mr Scott believes that chaplaincy serves as an integral part of a sports team, due to the increasing challenges young people face. “Many of them don’t feel comfortable approaching the coach if they have a personal issue, and even if they did, coaches aren’t equipped to deal with that sort of thing,” he said.

As well as much needed sponsorship and pastoral care, Mr Russell publishes a ‘blog’ relevant to everyday issues in the football recorder which goes out to 2000 people. The column is read with anticipation by team members, who often tell him, “That was exactly what I needed to hear”.

 

The right balance

April   

 

ON the morning of Easter Sunday, 2010, local Christians from the town of Boort gathered around Little Boort Lake – a body of water that had seen better days. The rural town has experienced hardship throughout the past 10 years due to droughts and, more recently, floods.

 

As a resource minister for the Uniting Church, serving the Nardoo Loddon cluster of six churches, Rev John Vander Reest has witnessed the impact of severe weather conditions in the community. “The farmers are doing it tough,” he said.

 

All six congregations in the region have seen the extreme climate affect the land in different ways. Drought caused Little Lake Boort to nearly dry up several times. This meant tourists could not use pleasure craft on the lake and the caravan park and shops lost valuable income.

 

Farmers thought this year would bring them bountiful crops, but then the rains came in droves and the crops were wiped out – leaving them to start all over again. Mr Vander Reest admits that though there has been some funding to help the farmers out, resources are limited. Bendigo’s outreach arm of the church (BUCO) made available $1000 worth of food vouchers, but so much more help is needed. Mr Vander Reest’s wife Heather is an Anglican priest in the area, so together they share in the task of pastoral care during these times.

 

Mr Vander Reest, who enjoys photography in his spare time, took this photo at the ecumenical dawn Easter service last year. Approximately 45 people from different denominations joined together at 6.30 am to watch the sun rise. Local man Alan Streader brought the cross to use in the service. He put it in a bucket filled with bricks and soil to stop it from blowing over. Mr Vander Reest entitled the picture, “From the worst of things comes the best of things”. He pointed out that in the photo, the lake is almost full, and it looked as though there was hope on the horizon.

 

“Prayers are needed; as are donations and helping hands,” Mr Vander Reest said. “Hopefully with the new Easter morn, hope will rise afresh – and the water levels will be just right.”

 

Giving peace a chance

March

MANY thoughts come to mind when concepts of community, peace and outreach are mentioned. Few would think that such complex issues could be encompassed by a simple clay tile.

 

And not everyone at Warrandyte Uniting Church was convinced when project coordinator Leeanne Keam suggested the idea of building a peace mural on the front of the church, made of tiles painted by the community.

 

All doubts were silenced when more than 1000 tiles were painted by local people aged from two to 92 years.

 

Ms Keam recalls it being a wonderful time when members of various faith groups, including Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Jewish painted their own tiles, expressing what peace meant to them, as well as children from local schools and kindergartens.

 

“Warrandyte Uniting Church’s mission is ‘peace with God, peace with people and peace with the earth,’” Ms Keam said. “The project aimed to engage all members of the community and give them a space to reflect on peace in the garden, created around the feature wall.”

 

The project also involved conducting discussions about peace with the various groups leading up to the launch and making them relevant to the age group.

 

Primary school children discussed how they can have peace in the playground by sharing with each other, while senior citizens talked about how they fought for peace throughout their lives.

 

Ms Keam believes it was a “gentle way of telling people we’re here and people can come in”. They have since been labelled the ‘peace church’ and often see people from the community walking by to show people which tile they painted.

 

Denise Keele-Bedpord photographed local girl Emma Mitchell in December 2006 when the mural was officially unveiled to the community.

 

Rather than pointing to the tile she had made, Emma epitomised what the project was trying to achieve by embracing the entire mural as a whole.

 

Ms Keam said Warrandyte Uniting Church has established ongoing involvement with various community groups and recently held an unrelated poster competition. They received 270 entries from the local primary school.

Restoring more than fences

February

WHILE a new fence is often an aesthetic touch for many suburban and inner-city homes, to the people of the bushfire affected regions it can signify new beginnings, a sense of identity and - most of all – that somebody cares.

As the second anniversary of Black Saturday arrives, residue of the destruction still remains and retired stock truck driver Alan Stafford continues to improve the region. With the help of the Uniting Church’s SHARE Bushfire Appeal fund, local organisations and a plethora of volunteers, Mr Stafford took on the task of rebuilding fences around the properties of the Kinglake ranges and Marysville triangle.

 

As well as defining property borders and protecting crops and cattle, he said the fencing project simply gives locals the feeling of having a home again.

In the 22 months he has been volunteering, Mr Stafford has been deeply moved, seeing a significant change in families from the moment the fencing crew arrive to when the task was completed. He described one occasion where the ‘man of the house’ was quite reserved and distant when they met him and his family voiced concerns about how he was coping with the trauma. By the time the fencing was finished, he was laughing and joking, and his wife thanked the team for “giving him a new lease in life”.

David Howie, Uniting Church Minister for the fire affected regions has no doubt about the value of the fencing program, “the making of fences is one thing but it’s the emotional support that makes a difference too,” Mr Howie said.  “Alan has brought some life to people who have been struggling - he’s the reason why it keeps running”.

 

Mr Stafford was recently awarded with a Paul Harris award by the Sunshine Rotary Club of Darwin – the highest award given for outstanding achievement. He attends Benalla Uniting Church and volunteers three days a week. He is determined to finish the task of restoring fencing and lives.

 

To see articles from previous years visit Crosslight Archives.