issue 05august 2010 - broomediocese.org

Published by the DIOCESE OF BROOMEPO Box 76, Broome, Western Australia 6725Tel: (08) 9192 1060 Fax: (08) 9192 2136E-mail: [email protected]

www.broomediocese.org

ISSUE 05 AUGUST 2010 Multi-award winning magazine for the Kimberley • Building our future together

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Editorial

For their own good...againWhy is it that successive

governments think it is necessaryto show the public that they canget tough on the poor andmarginalized? During theHoward Government regime,under the auspices of IndigenousAffairs Minister Mal Brough(rhymes with tough), negativereports about Indigenous peoplein the NT flooded into thecomfortable south of the country- reports of child abuse, abysmalhealth standards, poorachievement at school and anabove average consumption ofalcohol. The FederalGovernment’s response was theso-called Northern TerritoryIntervention.

In a media hype that itselfshould have been nominated foran Emmy, television reportsshowed military vehiclescontaining an abundance of armyuniforms cruising into remotedesert Aboriginal communitieswhile bewildered local peopleslooked on. For those down souththis radical action was portrayedas the cavalry coming to therescue, but to the locals it wasjust another invasion.

It is well known now that thisham-fisted occupation achievedvery little, and in fact some of thestatistics that were being bandiedaround to justify the incursionnow indicate a state of affairsexisting today that is worse thanit was before. Clearly, this wasan action more about headlinesthan real gains for IndigenousAustralians.

One aspect of the interventionthat has received much attentionis the quarantining of income.Originally this was aimedspecifically at Indigenous people,a single racial group, which

necessitated the suspension of theRacial Discrimination Act – amove that was met with manyobjections from internationalhuman rights observers. The thenOpposition railed against it andone particular future Minister ison record as saying: “this all willchange when we get intoGovernment”. Since then littlehas changed. No wonder peopleare cynical about politicians.

Recently the Senate voted ona Bill regarding CompulsoryIncome Management under theNorthern Territory EmergencyResponse. The measuresintroduced will apply to‘disengaged youth’, ‘long termwelfare payment recipients’ and‘persons assessed as vulnerable’.The effect of the legislation is tonow widen the application ofincome management to non-Indigenous Australians onwelfare in the Territory and any‘declared Income ManagementArea’. It will most certainlyapply to some parts of theKimberley. The poor andmarginalized, irrespective of race,will be snared into thiscompulsory income managementnet and for this reason it is nownot necessary for the Governmentto suspend the RacialDiscrimination Act. However,since most welfare recipients inthe Territory are Indigenouspeople, this must be viewed as acynical move to achieve the sameobjectives as before without anyuncomfortable internationalhuman rights protests. This isone more instance, like the StolenGeneration, of legislating againstIndigenous people ‘for their owngood’. Once again publicservants, from Centrelink thistime, unqualified as they are, are

given wide powers to decide whoexactly among the poor will beput on income management.

This Bill in fact quarantinesthe poor and marginalized anddoes nothing to address the causeof their poverty andmarginalization. This Billrelegates poor people to a systemof living whereby they no longerhave control over their funds andexpenditure – a right held in highregard by other, better offAustralians. Defining the IncomeManagement Area carefully willensure it doesn’t affect marginalseats or southern parts whereAustralians might be moresensitive about such rampantgovernment invasiveness.

It is not good enough that thehuge amounts of wealthgenerated in the north are spentmainly in the comfortable south.And it is not good enough thatIndigenous people continue tolive in a state of poverty in awealthy nation. We need povertyremoval and not merely povertymanagement in the Territory andin the Kimberley. CompulsoryIncome Management does notstop people being poor. It merelymanages their meagre means andquarantines their rights.

In areas such as in northernAustralia, where there are not theready possibilities foremployment, special attentionneeds to be given to raisingstandards of living andopportunity. Useful policiesdriven by social inclusion, ifpursued, will involve affirmativeaction to address the root causesof poverty. Social Inclusion is notpunitive. True Social Inclusionwill do more for the welfare ofthe marginalized than all theinterventions from Canberra.

2 KIMBERLEY COMMUNITY PROFILE AUGUST 2010

KIMBERLEY COMMUNITYPROFILE is a publication of theRoman Catholic Diocese ofBroome, published eight timesa year by the Bishop of Broome.Articles to do withthe Kimberley arewelcome to besubmitted forpublication.

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Bishop of Broome.

www.broomediocese.org

[Australian Catholic Social Justice Council]

Bishop John Jobst, Emeritus Bishopof Broome, in the Church of his

Baptism, St Ruperts, Brennberg,Bavaria, Germany at the time of thefestivities for his 60th Anniversary

as a Priest. The Bishop wasordained a Priest on 9 July 1950.This year he also celebrates his90th birthday and 51 years as a

Bishop. Photo: CAS

Such is the richness of thegrace which He has

showered on us in allwisdom and insight.

Eph 1:8

Ten steps towards being witnesses to the Gospel

STEP 6: DEVELOP A MORE ETHICAL LIFESTYLEAs we integrate our response to one another, to our world and to the environment, we will develop a more ethical lifestyle.

Photo: S Starc

MARTIN COLGAN, his wife Dot (L) along with artist JennaWade (R), from Perth, are now in Beagle Bay to restore, to theirformer glory, the side altars of the Sacred Heart Church.

KIMBERLEY COMMUNITY PROFILE AUGUST 2010 3

Photo: J Grimson

Briefly Speaking

MARY RETEL, DeputyDirector of Education WA,has been in Broome at theCatholic Education Officeholding the fort for CarolGeurts, Principals’ SupportOfficer, who has been on longservice leave.

Photo: J Grimson

ROBERT DANN, one of twoNATSICC nominated delegatesfrom the Diocese of Broome, isgoing to Rome for thecanonization of Blessed MaryMacKillop in October.Accompanying him will be MaryO’Reeri of Beagle Bay/Billard.

Photo: CAS

DONNELLY MCKENZIE,one of Broome’s favourite sons,turned 70 in July andcelebrated the event with hisfamily and a host of friends atNirrumbuk Resource Centre.

Photo: CAS

WAYNE MARTIN, the StateChief Justice, was in Broomeduring June serving on thebench for Western AustraliaDistrict Court. Mr Martin hasbeen at the forefront ofencouraging reform of theState’s criminal justice systemduring a period when theprison population has grownexponentially and facilities areclearly overcrowded. Ofparticular concern is theextremely high incarcerationrate for Indigenous people.

DAVID PIGRAM of Broomewas recognized for hisgenerous work in thecommunity recently when hewas named as the KullariNAIDOC Person of the Year.This prestigious award wasbestowed during the NAIDOCevening held at Goolarri Media.

Photo: J Grimson

SR JOHANNA KLEP of TheSisters of St John of Godvisited the Sisters in Broomerecently to assist with theopening of their Archive andResearch Centre. At theinvitation of the local ladies, SrJohanna also visited thecommunity of La Grangewhere she had previouslyspent many years.Photo: J Grimson

Photo: S Starc

PROFESSOR MATTHEWOGILVIE heads the Theologyfaculty at Notre DameUniversity, Fremantle. Hevisited Broome in June tofamiliarize himself with theKimberley Campus and thework of the University in theregion.

Photo: Archives of Broome

FR KEVIN MCKELSON, aPallottine Priest, celebrated 60years of Ordination as a Prieston 2 July 2010. Fr McKelson,spent most of his years as aPriest ministering in theDiocese of Broome. He is nowretired to Melbourne.Congratulations Fr Kevin.

Mimbi Caves-don’t miss it!Girloorloo Tours run a very special exploration of Mimbi Caves, 90km east of Fitzroy

Crossing on the Great Northern Highway, going towards Halls Creek.Spokesperson and one of the guides, Ronnie Jimbidie has an inclusive charm about him

that makes all visitors feel very comfortable as he relates the geological and cultural history ofthe caves. The easily traversed tunnels run through old limestone reefs from the Devonianperiod. Inside are rock paintings and charming pools of crystal clear water lit by smallopenings in the ceiling of the caves.

Jolene Gordon and Delwyn Surprise also work very hard to see to it that people enjoythemselves and have a safe and memorable exploration of this fascinating area. Informationon bush tucker and bush medicine from the region is passed on by Jolene in a confident andfriendly manner that confirms the adage that nothing beats being in the hands of a local,especially one who is anxious that you learn as much as possible about their country.

As the tour makes its way through the long water-formed tunnels Delwyn is careful thatsenior people make their way along the path indicative of a business that cares about its

customers. Tours to Mimbi Caves can be

arranged by ringing Girloorloo Tourson (08) 9191 5355.


Turf Club facility blessed and opened

When the Broome Turf Club built a stunning new stand in itsracing complex at Gantheaume Point, Bishop Saunders, the CourseChaplain, was asked to bless and open the facility at the first racemeeting of the year.

Photo: M Bell

ABOVE: A billy of bush tea and somedamper are very welcome afterexploration of the one of the many cavesat the Mimbi complex. Photo: CAS

RIGHT: Delwyn Surprise (L) and JoleneGordon are guides who work withGirloorloo tours at Mimbi caves. Photo: CAS

RIGHT: Ronnie Jimbidie, a leadingguide at Mimbi Caves, props next tosome fossils in limestone country.The extraordinary limestone cavesare part of a Devonian reef some 360million years old. Photo: CAS


www.caritas.com.au

ThroughoutAustralia, CaritasAustralia issupportingIndigenous-ledlocal partners tohelp bridge themassive socio-economic andhealth dividebetweenIndigenous andnon-IndigenousAustralians.

Of the twelveIndigenous projects Caritas Australia supports, the Unity ofFirst People’s of Australia (UFPA), working in the Kimberleyregion, is one program seeking to address the prevalence ofpreventable illness in Indigenous communities.

Working with the Noonkanbah, Looma, Warmun,Djugerari, Lombadina, Djarindjin and Mowanjumcommunities, UFPA’s Diabetes Management and CareProgram combines a medical approach to Indigenous healthwith a community development focus.

UFPA President Ernie Bridge said, “The programprovides health and eye assessments and antenataleducation, promotes healthy behaviours and lifestylechoices, offers nutritional and culinary education, andintegrates exercise and sports programs into communitiesthat need it most.

Caritas Australia is committed to working in closecollaboration with Indigenous communities to ensure equityis achieved through real community ownership andmanagement.

Caritas Australia Closingthe Gap in the Kimberley

Office of Justice, Ecology and PeaceBy Dr David Brennan, Editing and Publications Officerof the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council

A time for questionsThe deadline for this column comes at a confused and

uncertain moment. We have a new Prime Minister; we don’tyet have a date for an election but could have one soon; andon a range of policies, we can only wait and see.

From the point of view of social justice in Australia, whatwould we as Christians like to see following this election?The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council is focusing onfive issues: Indigenous communities; workers on minimumwages; those most disadvantaged in our society; asylumseekers; and climate and the environment. Neither side ofpolitics, I suggest, has a wholehearted and courageousapproach to any of these topics.

Both, for example, are committed to continuing and evenextending the policy of income quarantining that wasintroduced under the Northern Territory EmergencyResponse. This scheme is deeply disempowering for those itaffects: it robs them of dignity and assumes the worst aboutthe way they handle the little money available to them. AsACSJC Chairman Bishop Saunders said in a recent mediarelease: ‘a policy that implies that “we know what is best” or“it is all for their own good” risks adopting the kind ofattitude that gave rise to policies behind the StolenGenerations.’

The recent decision by Fair Work Australia to increase theFederal Minimum Wage to $569.90 per week – an increase of$26 per week or $15 per hour – seems generous. But thatincrease has to be seen in the light of previous decisions thathave left workers on minimum rates well behind the inflationrate. As the Australian Catholic Council for EmploymentRelations (ACCER) points out, if you look at increases in thefederal minimum over the past decade, the wage would haveto be $610 per week to have kept pace with average wages.

With regard to asylum seekers, both sides seem to takeparticularly unconstructive lines. Both say that detention ofboat arrivals will deter desperate people; both in variousways demonise asylum seekers; and both regard peoplesmuggling as a crucial element, perhaps even the cause, ofthe perceived problem of asylum seekers. Neither sideadmits that people smuggling is only a response (howeverterrible) to a worldwide challenge, and that ‘stopping theboats’, if that were possible, would leave tens of thousandsstranded in countries far less able to deal with them than weare.

The record of the Rudd Labor government on climatechange and the environment has been the subject of greatcontroversy and, reportedly, a reason for Kevin Rudd’s loss ofthe leadership. As this is being written, it is unclear whatpolicy either Labor or the Coalition would now adopt on thisissue.

UFPA President Ernie Bridge with local Broome healthworker Arlene Manado. Photo: J Smith

Caritas Kimberley


Celebrating 60 years a Priest

Bishop Jobst’s 60th Anniversary ofPriesthood was a celebrated event thatwill long be remembered by all thosewho attended.

The Emeritus Bishop of Broome, +Johannes Jobst, returned tothe town of his Baptism, Brennberg, in the beautiful State ofBavaria in southern Germany, to share the joy of the occasion.

Bishop Jobst was raised on a farm near Brennberg beforejoining the Pallottine Fathers. After compulsory military serviceduring World War II, +Johannes Jobst returned to the seminaryand was ordained a priest on 9 July 1950. Appointed to Australiatogether with Fr John Lenmann, a priest well known to manyKimberley people, the young Fr Jobst began his ministry atBeagle Bay. Later he went to the Pallottine Australian House of Studiesas Spiritual Director. It was from there, in Sydney, that he was namedas Bishop of the Vicariate of the Kimberley and, later, he became thefirst Bishop of the Diocese of Broome in 1965.

Many of Bishop Jobst’s family were in attendance including hissister, Amanda, a Pallottine Sister with many years experience in SouthAfrica where she worked with orphans of AIDS victims.

Bishop Manfred Muller, Emeritus Bishop of Regensburg,concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Christopher Saunders of Broomeand eleven other priests. Bishop Muller gave the homily at the Massand spoke of Bishop Jobst’s faith and vocation inspired by his parents,his family and his parish. He drew attention to Bishop Jobst’s heroicwork in the Kimberley region of Northern Western Australia in the areaof education and of his efforts to establish a healthy pastoral network ofcare among the Kimberley people.

Adding to the solemnity of the occasion was the attendance ofPrincess Gloria, of the House of von Thurn und Taxis, who brought aBroome touch to the proceedings by wearing a significantly beautifulnecklace of pearls.

The day began with Bishop Jobst riding in a horse drawn carriageup a steep hill to the ruinsof Brennberg Castlefollowed by a processionof forty servers in red orblack soutanes and white

Bishop John Jobst (R) in a highly decorated horse drawn carriage on the way to thefestivities in Brennberg. Photo: Mittelbayerische

Bishop John Jobst (R) andBishop Christopher Saunders enjoy the proceedings. Photo: Mittelbayerische

surplices, a uniformed brass band, and a throng of people carryingbanners and dressed in traditional Bavarian costumes including thefamous lederhosen, or leather pants, still worn on culturally publicoccasions. A horn band called everyone to attention giving the momentjust one more memorable touch. The parish priest, Fr Adolf Scholbe,did a magnificent job of pulling it all together and organizing such awonderful day. The Burgermeister (Mayoress), Ms Irmgard Sauerer,

welcomed everyone there and generously made everyonefeel part of the Bishop’s superb achievement of sixty yearsa presbyter in the service of the Lord.

No festival is complete without some refreshments anda meal of roast meat or sausage and potatoe salad andgreen salad was shared by several hundred parishionersand guests, and then washed down by a good Bavarianbeer.

The oom-pah-pah Brass Band played tirelessly, aftermore fitting testimonies to the Bishop, while a very largenumber of well wishers approached Bishop Jobst to greethim and personally congratulate him on the greatness of theoccasion.

The diocese of Broome joins with the people ofBrennberg in wishing Bishop Jobst god’s choicest blessingson the occasion of his diamond jubilee as a priest. Ad multos

annos.

Bishop John receives a greeting from PrincessGloria von Thurn und Taxis.

Photo: Mittelbayerische

Bishop Jobst is congratulated on the occasionof his Diamond Jubilee of Priesthood by his

Grandnephew Christoph. Photo: CAS


ABOVE: Emeritus Bishop of Broome, Bishop John Jobst (centre), Bishop ManfredMuller, Emeritus Bishop of Regensburg (R), and, Bishop of Broome, BishopChristopher Saunders at the Mass of Thanksgiving.

RIGHT: True Bavarian hospitality was made available with a delightful meal foreveryone while local music on the hillside set the festive mood of the day. Photos: Mittelbayerische

Celebrating 60 years a Priest

Sr Carmel returns to FremantleBy Nicola Kalmar

Change, for most of us, is notalways the easiest thing to acceptin our lives. But challenges areall too familiar in the life ofSister Carmel Posa sgs, and sheis not afraid to embrace her latestmission. After eight years ofservice in the Kimberley, Carmelbids a poignant farewell as shereturns to familiar soil.

Her time in the Kimberleyhas been nothing short ofremarkable from the many livesshe has touched throughout herdifferent roles; notably as atheologian, lecturer, colleagueand sister to all. But after yearsof nurturing students in heracademic role at Notre Dame, SrCarmel is returning to theuniversity’s Fremantle campus toresume teaching.

“I will be very sad to leavethe Kimberley, but it will be niceto be back with my oldcolleagues,” she says.

Sr Carmel arrived in theKimberley with the GoodSamaritan Sisters to minister as alecturer at Notre Dame’s Broomecampus, and teach the corecurriculum. Along the way, she

has relished the challenges ofteaching Indigenous and non-Indigenous students aboutChristianity.

“As a lecturer, my aim is toexpose students to a credible wayof thinking about Christianity andfaith.

“The curriculum is designedto ground students asprofessionals, and enable them toexplore different ways ofthinking, and to respect thatdifference.”

Sr Carmel’s contextualapproach includes an introductionto theology and reconciliation tohelp students find a sense ofplace and examine what it is tobe a human being. In that regard,she hopes individuals havegained as much fulfillment fromthe studies as she has in teachingthem.

“It’s very rewarding to be anacademic. Philosophically, it’sabout learning and putting it intoauthentic practice,” she says.

Throughout her journey, sherecalls many definitive momentsincluding her accomplishments asa lecturer.

“It’s most fulfillingwhen students who areantagonistic towardsfaith are able to cometo a deeperappreciation andunderstanding of it inthe world today.”

“I’ve facedcultural challenges,and learned to be alistener and appreciatedifference,” she says.

Sr Carmel hopesher eight years in the Kimberleyhave enabled her to contribute toher mission at Notre Dame’sBroome campus by leavingbehind a developedunderstanding of theology.

Sr Carmel’s passion to do theLord’s work has maintained heroptimistic outlook of the future.

“I am hopeful for the future.I believe in humankind and themovement of the Spirit which wecannot control. Life is so short,and one must face the truth. Ifwe seek the truth, we can obtaina hopeful vision of life, and itshope that drives us asChristians”.

As she bids an emotionalfarewell to the Kimberley, SrCarmel says she will fondlyremember Broome for manyreasons.

“It’s the colours, complexityand variety in Broome that I willmiss, especially the people. Theyare resilient and wondrousindividuals.”

Undoubtedly, as students,friends, colleagues and fellowbrothers and sisters in Christ, wethank Sr Carmel for her eightyears of service to ourcommunity, and cherish thelegacy she leaves behind.

Photo: N Kalmar

When Mick Burton talksabout his work at the hyperbaricchamber at Broome Hospital hisenthusiasm for the subject istotally engaging and is onlymatched by his deep commitmentto the safety and welfare of diversin the Kimberley pearl industry.

His own experience ofapproximately 12,000 hours as adiver formed him well for hisposition as the Safety andTraining Officer for the PearlProducers Association where he isdriven by the demands of theAssociation’s code of practice. Inthat capacity he is on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days aweek, in case anybody with thebends needs treatment. Thesedays safety is of paramountimportance in the pearl industrybut it wasn’t always that way. In1914 with some four hundreddivers working in the area it wasreported that one hundred of themhad experienced that danger intheir work, called ‘the bends’,when bubbles of nitrogen form inthe bloodstream as a result of

being in the water too long andtoo deep with too quick an ascentto the surface. These days thesolid steel decompressionchamber with its air-tight doorsenables the injured diver to betreated in a pressurizedatmosphere. Then oxygen isadministered to help dissipate thenitrogen bubbles and assist thebody to expel them.

“In my young days, I used tosway from the safety rules a bitwhen I was diving,” says Mickwith a tinge of regret in his voice.

“We all did it or at least too manyof us. We abused the tables setdown for us that demand certaintimes of decompression at certainlevels over a set time. Minorcases of the bends we put up with,swallowed a couple of panadoland got back in the water the nextday. Crazy! But now the entireindustry is committed to makingsure young divers abide by therules. That’s why I am employedto act as an independent point ofcontact for divers while doingdiver inductions along with sitetests and vessel inspections.” Hetakes on a very determined lookwhen he adds that thankfully it isall designed to help the industrymaintain an acceptable standard ofdiver safety since that publiccommitment was made in the late

eighties and this chamber waspurchased in 1992 by the PearlProducers Association.

Mick cannot find enoughpraise for the specially trainednurses from Broome Hospital whohave to accompany the occasionalpatient into the decompressionchamber. “Theirs is a big call,”Mick says. “They have to bethere for hours, for as long as ittakes, to monitor the person beingtreated. And that requiresdedication.”

One of two purposefullytrained doctors is also part of theteam when the chamber is at workand on site while Mick himself isat the console monitoring thetechnical aspects of its operation,always caring for the welfare ofthe diver being treated and evercontributing to safety as theprimary goal.

Diver safety


The first native Australianto be beatified. Born MaryHelen MacKillop inMelbourne, she was ofScottish ancestry. Concernedwith the poor and suffering,Mary founded the Sisters ofSt. Joseph and of the SacredHeart. These sisters werededicated to educating children. In 1873, she became Mary of theCross, and two years later was elected Mother General of hercongregation. After many difficulties, Mother MacKillop receivedpapal approval of her work in 1888 from Pope Leo XIII. When shedied on August 8, 1909, in Sydney, there were one thousandwomen in her congregation. Pope John Paul II beatified her onJanuary 19, 1995 in Sydney.

Blessed Mary MacKillop will be canonized a Saint by PopeBenedict XVII on October 17, 2010 in Rome.

Saint News

BlessedMaryMacKillop1842 – 1909

Feastday: August 8

“Mary 1882” Mary MacKillop PlaceArchive, North Sydney. Used withpermission of the Trustees of the Sistersof St Joseph. Must not be reproducedwithout permission of the Trustees

Media Notes

New leader for CRAIn the year of the canonisation of Mary MacKillop, Catholic

Religious Australia (CRA) has elected the current leader of herorder as its new president.

Sister Anne Derwin RSJ (R),Congregational Leader of the Sisters of StJoseph was elected president of the peakbody for Religious Institutes and Societies inAustralia at the group’s national assembly inHobart last week.

Sister Anne takes over from Good Samaritan Sister ClareCondon SGS (L), who held the position for the past two years.

At the assembly Sister Anne paid tribute to Sister Clarethanking her for her outstanding leadership of Catholic religiousthroughout Australia.

Sister Clare said it was very appropriate that in the year ofAustralia’s first canonisation that the new president of CRA was aSister of St Joseph.

Photo: CAS

Photo: CAS


Viewpoint

On a long plane journey recently I browsed through a bookthat is most surely tailored for this era of economic downturn.The title is engaging: Selling in Tough Times – Secrets to SellingWhen Nobody’s Buying. The publication was written bysomeone who is obviously an optimist, determined and able tosell his book despite the enduring financial gloom.

In like manner, it occurred to me that we would do well toreflect upon the reality that we are living in an era of religiousand spiritual downturn. It would appear that no matter whatwe say or do, at least in the western world, it is near impossibleto convey to the general populace what value there is in themaccepting faith in God and developing a relationship with Christin his worshipping community. Modern living in the fast lanehas rendered peoples’ lives simply too cluttered, too disjointed,direction-less, convoluted and confounding to let the light ofbelief shine in.

Over the past thirty-five years or so, certain changes inpatterns of belief and practice that are a cause for considerableworry have developed in Australia: numbers of peopleparticipating in the life of the Church are still declining; there isan apparent unwillingness among the baptized to adhere toprofessed Doctrine and Morals; there is an impoverished senseof ecclesiology among a significant number of those stillclaiming religious affiliation; there are growing numbers ofunbaptized people in our midst and a notable increase amongthose sporting God-less views. Even our new Prime Minister isa self-confessed atheist and she doesn’t mind who knows it!

Many Christian parents express often enough theirfrustration at being unable to pass on to their childrenimportant religious values, including what worth there is inpractising their faith in communion with the Church. The GoodNews is spoken but it is falling on deaf ears. In our time thesecular, the obscene, the banal and the mediocre are in theascendancy while the richness that faith holds for those who are

led into God’s wonderful light goes largely unnoticed. So, whatcan we do?

Simply by recognizing that we live in a period that is anoverwhelmingly secular age is a good beginning to formulatinga strategy or at least coping with the situation. It helps us tounderstand much of the prejudice and the ignorance regardingreligion that we encounter daily. Secondly, a steadfast patiencein our dealings with secular people is of paramount importance.No amount of ear-bashing on our part will steer those who livein error away from their hollow philosophy. Be content towitness by what you do and say and be prepared to forgive andbe forgiven. This is foundational to an authentic Christianvocation. Maintaining personal holiness as a prerequisite to alife well lived is essential if we are to avoid the pitfalls ofsecularism ourselves. We need to understand that pursuing aprayer-filled love for Christ is the most constructive responsetowards unbelief of which we are capable. Thirdly, with regardto the challenges we face, don’t blame yourself nor others forthat matter. Post-Modern man in his confusion has hatched astorm of secularist ideology and we just have to sit it out. In thewords of Mother Therese we are not called to be successful butrather to be faithful. Being faithful means, among other things,living peacefully with that which we cannot change.

The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has fine-tuned hisefforts in recent times to the re-evangelization of Europe. Tothis end he has established a Pontifical Council for thePromotion of the New Evangelisation which will endeavour “tofind the appropriate means to propose again the perennial truthof the Gospel of Christ.” Without a doubt, both there in Europeand here in Australia, much remains to be done. These aretough times but it is no time for gloom. That is best left to thosewithout faith while the Christians remain patient, prayerful andhopeful – ever content to leave much of what needs to be doneto God.

By Bishop Christopher Saunders DD

A Faithful Life - Surviving the Tough Times

BishopChristopherSaunders withthe StateMinister forEducation, theHon ElizabethConstable, andthe Director ofCatholicEducation, MrRon Dullard,met in Broomein June at theCatholicEducationOffice.


Notre Dame KimberleyAmanda McCubbin, Assistant Dean of the School of Education

The mission of Notre Dame

The mission of the University of Notre Dame Broome Campus isto promote the process of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, particularly those who live in the Kimberleyregion. One of the many ways that the University endeavours toachieve this goal is to provide educational programs for those whoseaccess to the University may be reduced for a variety of reasonsincluding distance, weather, time constraints, the physicalenvironment and family commitments.

In an attempt to overcome these barriers, the School of Educationsuccessfully applied for an Access Grant through the Department ofEducation and Training. This funding has enabled lecturers andsupport staff to regularly fly to Wirrimanu (Balgo) to deliver theVocational Education and Training Certificate III Education Supportprogram to all Aboriginal Teacher Assistants (ATA) at LuurnpaCatholic School.

In conjunction with the Principal of Luurnpa School, BrotherRick Gaffney and volunteers Kerri and Gary Hamer, a number ofunits that form the Certificate III have been delivered to theAboriginal Teacher Assistants in Wirrimanu over the past term.Delivering on site has enabled all Aboriginal Teacher Assistants toparticipate in the course and has eliminated many of the access andequity issues associated with remote communities.

All lecturingstaff in the Schoolof Education,along with supportstaff, has visitedWirrimanu.These visits havefacilitated agreaterunderstanding ofthe difficultiesand hardshipsfaced by studentswho live inremote locations and haveenhanced each lecturer’s own knowledge in regards to Aboriginalsociety, identity and culture.

Through visiting the community and discussing issues with theAboriginal Teacher Assistants, including listening to their stories,learning about cultural differences and the challenges faced on a dailybasis, there has been a renewal of the relationship between theUniversity and Luurnpa School. This relationship has been builtover many years and is based on trust and respect between thevisiting Notre Dame staff and the Aboriginal Teacher Assistants.

The fostering and maintaining of relationships, based aroundfurthering the educational opportunities of Indigenous students, isvital to the reconciliation process and is an affirmative example wherethe staff of the University of Notre Dame Broome Campus

demonstrate their commitment toreconciliation, particularly amongthe peoples of the Kimberley.

Pontiff: Be More Radical inFollowing Christ

Calls Saying Yes to God a"Beautiful Experience"VATICAN CITY, JUNE 27,2010 (Zenit.org)

On the last Sunday ofJune dedicated to theSacred Heart; BenedictXVI invited the faithful tobe more willing andradical in responding to acall from Christ.

The Pope made thesecomments in a shortaddress before praying themidday Angelus withcrowds gathered in StPeter's Square, which hededicated to the theme of"Christ's call and itsdemands."

"Whoever has thefortune to know a young man or young woman who leaves theirfamily, their studies or work to consecrate himself or herself toGod [...] has before him a living example of radical response to thedivine calling," the Holy Father began.

He called the affirmative response to God's call "one of themost beautiful experiences that one has in the Church," in whichone sees "the Lord’s action in people’s lives, touch[es] it with one’shand; experience[es] that God is not an abstract entity, but aReality so great and powerful that he can fill man’s heart in asuper-abundant way. He is a Person who is alive and near, wholoves us and asks us to love him."

The Holy Father reflected on several passages from the Gospelin which Christ is "very demanding" with several disciples whoexpress their desire to follow him. Christ informs the would-bedisciples that "whoever chooses to work with him in God’s fieldcannot change his mind," and must "completely sever his familialbonds."

"These demands might appear too harsh," Benedict XVIcontinued, "but in reality they express the newness and absolutepriority of the Kingdom of God that is made present in the Personhimself of Jesus Christ. In the final analysis it is the radicality thatis owed to the Love of God, whom Jesus is the first to obey."

The Pontiff continued: "Whoever renounces everything, evenhimself, to follow Jesus, enters into a new dimension of freedomthat St Paul defines as 'walking according to the Spirit.'

"'Christ has freed us for freedom!' the Apostle writes, andexplains that this new form of freedom acquired for us by Christconsists in being 'in the service of each other.'

"Freedom and love coincide! Obeying one’s own egoism, onthe contrary, leads to rivalry and conflict."

Vatican Dossier


ATA Seminar 2010Aboriginal Teacher Assistants (ATA) met during Term 2 at the

Catholic Education Office, Broome. Pictured are Shirley Quaresimin(second from right), School Community Consultant from CEO Broome,with ATA’s from St Mary’s College Broome, (L-R) Rose Bin Swani,Helen Howard and Carlene Smith.

Photo: E Cox

Principals’ RetreatBy Dean Savoia, Principal Warlawurru Catholic School Red Hill

Catholic School Principals from across the Kimberley gathered atParry Creek Farm, East Kimberley, on the June long-weekend for aretreat. Led by Sr Alma Cabassi RSJ, the time of reflection andrenewal focussed on the life of Blessed Mary MacKillop. A numberof East Kimberley landmarks, including the King River prison tree,the Bastion, Parry’s Lagoon Bird Sanctuary and the Moochalabra artsite, were included in a bus tour that provoked thought and prayer onthe action of God in our lives, as expressed in Mary MacKillop’swritings. The weekend culminated in the celebration of Mass by FrRaphael, Assistant Priest in Kununurra, atop Telegraph Hill.

Fr Raphael with Parry Creek Lagoon in the background. Photo: D Savoia

Catholic Education Office

You’re invited to take partin crucial education debate

The Catholic education community inWestern Australia needs to make their voiceheard in the debate about school funding inthis country. This is particularly vital forCatholic schools in the Kimberley whoselocation, isolation and special educationalneeds mean that they require considerableadditional funding.

The Federal Government has announceda sweeping review of the way that it fundsgovernment and non-government schools.This review is sure to prompt vigorouspublic debate on all aspects of schoolfunding in Australia.

Catholic education is well placed to take a leading role in thatdebate: we are the second largest provider of education in Australia –schools from one end of the country to another have been providing aquality education for over 180 years. Today there are 1700 Catholicschools nationally, educating almost 704,000 students – that’s one infive Australian school students.

Catholic schools do more with less

We often hear the myth that Catholic schools get more fundingthan Government schools. This is transparently wrong.

When all forms of Government funding (bothfederal and state) are considered, Catholic schoolstudents receive less than half the funding perstudent that is received by Government schoolstudents.

As parents, teachers, students and friends of the Catholiceducation sector, you are aware that some of this gap is made up bycontributions from parents and parishes through fees and levies andthat, in the case of Catholic schools in the Kimberley, considerablefinancial assistance is received from other Catholic schools in WA.

Catholic schools strive to keep fees low so that they remainaccessible to all. No child is ever denied a Catholic educationbecause of their family’s financial situation.

We need you – as parents, teachers, students, parishioners, friendsand supporters, to join us in helping to ensure that our schools arefunded fairly. Over the coming weeks and months our Kimberleyschools will provide you with a series of information briefs that willhighlight the essential facts and figures of Catholic education, theimportant place of Catholic education and some of the fundingprinciples which will underpin our approach to the upcoming fundingreview.

We hope that, armed with this knowledge, you will feel confidentto become Catholic education advocates and take an active part in theeducation funding debate in your local area.

Ron Dullard, Director,Catholic Education WA.Photo: Catholic EducationOffice, Perth


Catholic Missionwww.catholicmission.org.au

Religious Women in Zambia

Australian-born Sister Marie Bourke a member of theFranciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood has beenworking with the sick and dying in remote areas of northernZambia for 15 years.

She works with Nigerian sisters, Sr Rogita Bonaventure andSr Anna Gochin, in bringing nursing care to more than 90 villageswhere people are infected with HIV/AIDS.

“We are keeping people alive who would otherwise die. Wetry to witness to people that they matter,” says Sr Marie of thehome-based, clinical and palliative care for HIV/AIDS sufferers.It is a ministry that has dramatically reduced the mortality rate,especially among children.

For the Zambian people whose lives they touch theFranciscans’ mission is the affirmation of a compassionate,loving God in their lives. Their devotion to caring in Christ’sname has inspired many local women to want to follow them intoreligious life.

In answering this call the Franciscans are now in the laterstages of preparing to build a formation house where aspirantscan discern their vocation. Here local women will deepen theirChristian education. Those who choose to stay will go on toprofess their vows as religious women.

The Sisters recently accepted a quotation of AUD $327,800for the building of the new formation house. The two storeybuilding will be simply finished in concrete throughout, with tilingin the bathrooms and laundry. With AUD $219,618 already raisedtowards these costs, there is a shortfall of AUD $108,182 beforethey can bring the new formation house into reality.

“This formation house builds directly on the legacy ofmissionary work the Franciscans Sisters have given in remoteZambia. It speaks of a living faith which is putting down deeproots for the future of the Catholic Church in Africa”, saidCatholic Mission’s National Director, Martin Teulan.

“Through our donors, Catholic Mission is assisting SisterMarie to bring this worthy enterprise to completion,”

Sr Marie (Centre) with Nigerian Sisters Sr Rogita (L) and Sr Anna (R).Photo: Catholic Mission Australia

Kimberley Wild

Northern Brushtail PossumTrichosurus Amhemensis

The Northern Brushtail Possum is quite common in theKimberley and inhabits large areas that have trees and shrubs. Its furis grey in colour with a white underbelly and pink skin, although areddish copper fur colour is also well known. Strangely, given thename, it does not have a brushy tail. It is common around Broomeand on the Dampier Peninsula as well as in the North of theKimberley in wooded areas.

The possum breeds all year round with a gestation period ofabout 18 days followed by 4-5 months in a pouch. This marsupialgenerally gives birthto only oneoffspring at a timeand this individualcan live for up tofifteen years.

The NorthernBrushtail prefers tolive in hollows intrees and in caves,but seems just athome in the roofsof houses and inbackyard sheds.The body lengthof the adultNorthernBrushtail isusually between35cm and 55cm.

Photo: CAS

Trinity boys in BroomeEight students of Trinity College Perth, along with two staff

members, outside Our Lady Queen of Peace Cathedral with BishopSaunders and Trinity College old boy, David Pigrim (L-Front Row)following the mass on Aboriginal Sunday, 2 July. The students spentten days in Broome and on the Dampier Peninsula involving themselvesin community and NAIDOC events.

Photo: S Starc


Justice Matters

By Shane J. Wood cfc

Part 2: Law & Orderversus Erosion of Rights

This edition’s column follows on from the last. Anotherarea of law and order that impacts upon the Kimberley regionmore than other parts of the state, and one that has receivedsome attention in the past, has been raised again recently bythe community elders in the Northern Territory community ofLajamanu, and featured on a recent edition of Message Stick.

The program made a strong case for a reconsideration ofthe incorporation of at least some parts of tribal law into theprocess of treating offenders from traditional Indigenouscommunities. Again there is a need for a balance to be struck,but the elders were making a very cogent argument forallowing local elders to deal with ‘tribal business’ before thestate legal system takes over. The reasons given includedcomments not unrelated to what Antoinette Kennedy wassuggesting in her interview on Stateline mentioned in thecolumn in the last edition.

The elders made the point that placing somebody in gaoldoes not necessarily satisfy the need for justice to be served forall those affected by the commission of a crime, including theperpetrator. As one elder said, there needs to be a balance.‘We're not going to kill that man, spear him through the heartor spear him through the neck or whatever to get rid of him,eye for an eye - no, that's not the case.’ A careful supervisionof the process would be needed. As a result of the punishment,the community is satisfied that justice has been done. As oneelder put it, ‘[we say] sorry to each other. That's the last bit.Hug each other and shake hands or whatever that needs totake place. Then it's finished - not to be carried on. We're backto square one again. Then we can give them to the [state] law.’

There is something to be said for having this Indigenousform of Restorative Justice looked at more seriously by ourlegal system. It just might restore a sense of law and order inour remote communities by restoring respect for the eldersand the community as a whole. We allow schools, associationsand businesses by and large to run their own codes of conductand forms of discipline for breaking them. The broadercommunity steps in when more serious offenses arecommitted. As a society we have moved beyond allowing theadministration of corporal punishment either publicly orprivately, so perhaps tribal law might have to be modified inthis respect also.

Having perpetrators and victims facing each other in asupervised community conference has been tried and hasworked in schools and other settings. Why not in remoteIndigenous communities where it was the norm beforecolonisation? As some elders have said, it may serve to restorerespect for elders, for law and order, decrease unregulatedviolence associated with ‘payback’, and decrease the numbersof Indigenous young men (in particular) in our prison system.

This is a family recipe from Sr Alma Cabassi RSJ, and is knownas peasant or poor people’s food. Sr Alma’s family is from theNorth of Italy. Sr Alma is the Family Support Worker for theDiocese of Broome in the East Kimberley.

Ingredients

6 tablespoons of buckwheat flour4 tablespoons of SR flourbutter (and or oil)water and saltsliced cheese

Method

Mix flours withenough cold water tomake a runny batter,(like liquid cream).Add salt and stir well.

Heat 40g butter(and/or oil), in fryingpan until turningbrown. Pour batterinto pan. Cover withsliced cheese (begenerous withcheese), press slicesof cheese into thecooking batter. Cookuntil solid or bubblesappear then flippancake.(Shuffle/wiggle panto keep mixture fromsticking to pan).Cook until crisp and sounds hollow when tapped.

Variations: Grate cheese into the mixture. Make small circularpancakes like pikelets.

Kimberley Kitchen

Chisiol - Pancake

Photo: Sr A Porter RSJ

Molly Bell is acharmer from wayback for whom somethings in life aresimply black andwhite. She is a joy toher parents, Meredithand Paul, who areadamant that life forher will be ‘acakewalk’.

Photo: P Bell

New Kids on the block


PLEASE CONTACT Your Local Parish Priest OR Erica BernardKIMBERLEY WORLD YOUTH DAY COORDINATORPhone: 08 9192 1060 Mobile: 0448 762 987Email: [email protected]

Benedict XVI: Youth Days notjust big events

Calls them "privilegedoccasions" to find ChristVATICAN CITY, JULY 2, 2010 (Zenit.org)

World Youth Day isn't just another big event, says Benedict XVI, butrather a "privileged occasion" for youth to encounter the love of Christ.

The Pope said this upon receiving in audience a delegation of thesponsors of the next international World Youth Day, which is set to takeplace 16-21 August, 2011, in Madrid, Spain.

"There are many young people who have their eyes fixed on thatbeautiful city, with the joy of being able to meet there in a few months tohear together the Word of Christ, which is always young, and to be ableto share the faith that unites us and the desire they have of building abetter world, inspired in the values of the Gospel," the Pontiff said.

"I invite you all to continue to collaborate generously in thisbeautiful initiative," he continued, "which is not a simple multitudinousmeeting, but a privileged occasion for the young people of your countryand of the whole world to let themselves be conquered by the love ofChrist Jesus, Son of God and of Mary, the faithful friend, the conquerorof sin and death."

"Whoever trusts in Him is never disappointed, but finds thenecessary strength to choose the right path in life," he added.

More than 600,000 registeredfor World Youth Day 2011Catholic News Agency

More than 600,000 pilgrims from outside Spain have registered forthe World Youth Day 2011 celebration in Madrid, organisers said.

A 10 Euro contribution from each pilgrim's registration fee will beset aside in a "solidarity fund" which will help pay the cost of the tripand their stay for those who would not otherwise be able to afford it, thereport adds.

World Youth Day "is not for the rich, but rather for everyone, forthose who come from Madagascar and from the south of LatinAmerica," said Bishop Cesar Franco, an auxiliary Bishop in Madrid.

Registration this year is taking place online atwww.madrid11.com

Benedict XVI is first signed upfor '11 Youth DayMADRID, JULY 1, 2010 (Zenit.org).-

Registrations opened today for the 2011 World Youth Day inMadrid, with Benedict XVI being the first participant signed up.

Registration includes accident insurance, public transport duringthe WYD week, the backpack – with shirt, cap, Guide to Madrid, bookfor the ceremonies and other useful items – free entrance to culturalactivities and priority access, and reserved areas in the principal events.


Kimberley VolunteersBy Vicki Baudry, Volunteer Co-ordinator

There is never a quiet moment in ourKimberley Catholic Volunteer Service!

One of the reasons is that this monthour little Stephan family, Anna, Tomaszand baby Jakub, now aged eight months,packed their bags after nearly two yearsof managing our Mirrilingki SpiritualityCentre. They have returned to theirhome country of Poland, and our sinceregood wishes for their future go withthem, as well as our sincere thanks forall of their hard work and devotion tothe Centre.

Other volunteers are returning home.At Kalumburu Mission Cristina Centenera has returned to her family in South Australia.For over six months Cristina has been a wonderful support to Lilibeth, Administrator ofKalumburu Mission.

At La Grange-Bidyadanga Parish regular volunteers Laurie and Helen Short, are alsopacking their bags! This marvellous and generous couple have been Kimberley volunteersfor over five years now, offering more than six months each year, AND they are keen toreturn again in 2011!

Back at Mirrilingki for more service and hard work, are Di and John McMahon fromGoolwa, SA. They arrived in time for the June Drug and Alcohol

Program, which is always a very busy, yetrewarding, time at the Centre. We welcomethem back and thank them for their readinessto help.

Sincere thanks to all for your ongoinggenerosity, and may God bless you for yourcommitment, and your families for theiracceptance of your absence from their midst.

LEFT: John and DianeMcMahon returned to theCentre to offer their helpagain during the busy part ofthe year. Photo: T Stephan

BELOW: Multi-talentedMirrilingki volunteer CarmenOrtiz applies her hairdressingskills to Betty Carrington, ofWarmun, thereby making arose even more beautiful.Photo: B Farrelly

The Stephan family with Bishop Saunders.

The Diocese of Broome, Western Australia, urgently requires volunteers – couples and singles – to serve withinthe Diocese. Duties may include any of the following: cooking, working in stores, building and vehiclemaintenance, housekeeping, book-keeping, transport and grounds maintenance.In return for being part of the team we offer accommodation, living expenses and an allowance.

Placements are preferred for a period of twelve months plus but a reduced time would be

considered. For further details and an application form please contact:

Mrs Vicki Baudry: Phone: 08 9192 1060 or email: [email protected]

PO Box 76, BROOME WA 6725

WANTED:VolunteerWorkersKimberley Catholic Volunteer Service


Parish News

Kalumburu

First Holy Communion was celebrated at the Vigil Mass, held inOur Lady of the Assumption Church Kalumburu on 19 June.

Fr Anscar with (L to R) Maria Maraltadj, Heidy Clement and Coolio Bundamurra.Photo: Sr M Scanlon SGS

A festival of food, art, religious goods and op shop clothing tookplace in Kalumburu Mission grounds on the weekend 4/5 July tocelebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander week (NAIDOC).Children had enormous fun as they dressed up in the ‘deadly’ clothingand the girls couldn’t resist the perfumes, soaps, ear rings, beads andbangles.

All age groups bought up big!

From left, Danielle Djanghara, Tegan Djanghara and baby Kimberley Nulgit with theirbaubles and beads. Photo: Sr M Scanlon SGS

Broome

Don’s PartyPictured here with his children, at his 70th birthday, Donnelly

McKenzie has much to celebrate. Don’s sporting prowess at football,basketball and darts were recalled in a bevy of testimonies wonderfullydelivered by his children, family members and others. His commitmentto the community at large, through his work as a prison visitor, iswidely known and appreciated. So too is his extraordinarily lovingrelationship with his now deceased wife, Mary Anne, whom he referredto as ‘the love of my life’. Don spoke with deep emotion of his feelingsfor his family and Mary Anne. His party was a remarkableremembrance that paid tribute to a remarkable man.

Photo: CAS

Eagles Cup 2010

Kununurra hosted the Eagles Cup on Friday the 18th of June.Teams from around the Kimberley came to compete in netball andfootball. The under 12’s school carnival organised by Garnduwaran successfully with teams competing from Oombi, Wyndham,Halls Creek, Kununurra and Warmun. The boys had a spiritedfootball competition with the Kununurra Falcons having aconvincing victory over the combined Wyndham/Oombi side in thegrand final. The Wyndham girls were the most competitive sidesduring the netball carnival, with St Joseph’s Wyndham winning ina tight contest with Wyndham District High School.Congratulations to all players and schools for participating in anenjoyable and competitive atmosphere.

Students of the combined St Joseph’s Wyndham and Wyndham District HighSchool team (pictured), won all their qualifying games in the football, butKununurra District High School was too strong in the final. Photo: R Clyne

Garnduwa News


Beagle Bay

Climbing the bell tower, to give the statue of the Sacred Heart amuch needed clean, is Fr Bill Christy, Parish Priest of DampierPeninsula. Fr Bill was back in Beagle Bay while on semester breakfrom his studies at Notre Dame Fremantle.

Photo: T Sarah

Sr Alma Cabassi RSJ, Family Support Worker for the East Kimberlyin the Diocese of Broome, was in Yaruman/Ringer Soak recently toconduct a Seasons for Growth Program on grief and loss.

“Working through this program has refreshed me like this picture ofthe wave. It has washed over me.” was the comment by one of thegroup of young mothers and grannies who gathered with Sr Alma.

Sr Alma, as Companion, worked through the adult section of thisprogram with the women who committed themselves to four sessions.

“I didn’t know there was so much to learn. It has been helpful. Iwas like a closed flower now I feel the flower is open.” said another ofthose participating.

Participants: back row (L to R) Pauline Jack, Serina Gordon, Sr Alma Cabassi RSJand Christine Tchooga and in front, Nida Tchooga and Clare Gordon.Photo: C Lord

Halls Creek

Parish News

Photo: D Savoia

St Mary’s Church, Halls Creek, is sporting a fresh and distinctivenew coat of paint. The new paint is courtesy of the very generousdonations of parishes of the Diocese of Ballarat, Victoria. Parishionerswere asked to consider colours and designs and chose earthy brownsand reds that reflect the iron-rich rocks and soils of the Kimberley.

DevaughnLightning, AntonSeela andZhianne,Coburn,Markelle andBradrick Mingawere baptisedinto theCatholic Churchduring thecelebration ofthe SundayMass in StMary’sCatholicChurch HallsCreek on 13June by ParishPriest Fr DenisDennehy.

Fr Denis pours the water of Baptism over Zhianne Minga. Photo: D Savoia

It is not the magnitude of our

actions but the amount of love that

is put into them that matters.

Mother Teresa

It was 11 degrees at 5am on a June morning when an excited bunchof pink-shirted women gathered at Celebrity Tree Park in Kununurra toventure on a 4-day journey that would build a solidarity which wouldfurther bind an amazing community.

Twelve months earlier, on a charity fundraiser, a child wasaccidentally killed. Kununurra rallied, as communities do, to supporther family, and we became aware that the Kununurra District Hospitaldid not have a Chapel for quiet reflection and grief. Community effortsunited, and the 100 Women Walk emerged.

100 women would walk 100 kilometres to raise $100,000 for a non-denominational Chapel at the hospital. The Rotary Club of Kununurratook up the challenge, local businesses rallied with donations, local(and some interstate!) women quickly found their $1000 sponsorship,and the great walk began.

Women from Kununurra’s St Vincent Pallotti Parish, including ourorganist, Regula Waser, as well as Libuse Dessert-McGee, ElisabethDessert-Stewart, Estrelia Diaz, Jacquie Henggeler and myself alldonned the sneakers and set off for Carlton Hill Station. Supported by a number of other community members, including parishioners Di

Challen (The Amazing Queen of the Blisters), Marion O’Kenny andSally Thomas, the walkers were fed, washed and nurtured over awonderful weekend.

In the end, only 76 women walked, but ’76 women walk’ doesn’thave the same ring to it, does it?! And through the generosity of theKununurra community, a total of $117,000 was raised!

The challenge now is to raise the remainder of the money for thechapel – estimated at 3 to 4 times what has already been raised. Thecommunity has, quite literally, put in the ‘hard yards’ and we will usethis to leverage the rest.

Congratulations to all who walked, and thank you to all of thosewho helped us walk and helped build an even stronger Kununurracommunity.


Parish News

By Deb Pearce

Photo: P Hayley

Anne Murray and Stephen Craig were married in St VincentPallotti Church, Kununurra in mid June. Bishop Saunders celebratedthe marriage for Anne and Steve who live on Mistake Creek, southof Kununurra.

Being cheered across the finish line with their trusty steeds, are(from left) Jacquie Henggeler, Regula Waser and Ute Diederichsen. Photo: P Stubbs

Kununurra

Photo: CAS

Gabriel Nodia, well known Warmun artist, is exhibiting at thebeautiful local gallery again - along with a host of other paintersmany of whom have produced works that are now to be found inmajor art collections throughout the world. Gabriel is rightfullyproud of his achievement and that of his fellow communitymembers from Warmun.

Warmun

Deputy Director ofCatholic Education in WA,Mrs Mary Retel, visited StMary’s College Broome andattended the Term 2 AwardsAssembly. Mrs Reteladdressed the Assembly andpresented awards to students,including the CurtinUniversity Engineering Awardto Year 11 student ToreyRickerby.

Photo: J Cambridge

Imran Paddy, a Year 11student at St Mary’s CollegeBroome, was awarded runner-upfor the Most Valuable Player inthe Kimberley Cup held duringTerm 2. Imran also made the‘All Stars Basketball Team” -well done!

Photo: J Cambridge


Broome

School News

Congratulations to Georgia Deguara from Year 9 of St Mary’sCollege, Broome who won the ‘Banners in the Terrace’ Competition!This competition is run by the Shire of Broome and the Year 8 & 9 Artstudents designed andpainted their ideas onhow to best representBroome, in a colourfuland simple way. Allschools in Broome wereinvited to enter,however there is onlyone winner. Georgiapainted her design onto a banner over 3mlong and it will behung in St George’sTerrace in Perth duringLocal GovernmentWeek later this year.

Georgia Deguara with herwinning banner. Photo: J Cambridge

Lombadina-Djarindjin

All students enjoyed the interschool athletics carnival held recentlyat Sacred Heart School, Beagle Bay on the Dampier Peninsula.Congratulations to La Grange-Bidyadanga on taking out the team shieldfor the first time.

Gathered at the end of the day are trophy winners from Lombadina DjarindjinCatholic School. Photo: C Howie

Beagle Bay

The candidates (L–R) Shanni-Lee Cox, Kasey Councillor, Levinea Shadforth andMahalia Koster cutting their First Communion cake. Photo: K Bin Jalil

Sacred Heart School Beagle Bay, on the Dampier Peninsula,celebrated its Feast Day on Friday 11 June. Following in thetradition of the past, the Sacrament of First Holy Communion wasalso celebrated on that day. The Mass combined the modern andthe old with community elders singing church hymns while theschool sung more modern songs. Community members and severalvisitors came to support the four girls, each beautifully dressed intheir best, and followed the celebration with a wonderful morningtea.

Ringer Soak


School News

Four children of St Joseph’s School, Kununurra made their FirstReconcilation in mid June. In a special symbolic gesture the Sacramentwas linked with their Baptism through the washing of their hands inthe baptismal font (symbolising the washing away of sin) and lightingtheir baptismal candle from the Paschal Candle (symbolising the Lightof Christ).

Gathered with Parish Priest, Fr Jes Katru (back right) are, from left, Emily, Georgia,Jake and Connor with teacher Mrs Ison (back left). Photo: T Fyfe

St Joseph’s School Kununurra was lucky to have two expertmotocross riders drop in on a wet and cool June morning to show offtheir racing bike and safety accessories. Students enjoyed sitting on thepowerful bike, a Honda 450. Ben and Lee reminded children of theimportance of safety gear when riding their own bikes around the streetsof Kununurra.

Edwina and Kassidy, who are both happy to come to school to learn, are picturedwith St Joseph’s School’s NAIDOC display. Photo: T Fyfe

NAIDOC Week, celebrated this year in the first week of the schoolholidays, kicked off at St Joseph’s School in Kununurra with a shortprayer. As a school, St Joseph’s will hold NAIDOC celebrations inTerm 3. The theme of Unsung Heroes ~ closing the gap by leading theway is a timely reminder of the importance of role modelling to our kidsabout the importance of attending school regularly if they want asuccessful future with higher education studies and employment. Thisyear’s poster displays this clearly with a mum (an unsung hero) leadingher children to the open doors of education, employment and success.

Recently, new shade sails were erected at Birlirr NgawiyiwuSchool in Ringer Soak-Yaruman, East Kimberley. Senior studentstook advantage of the shade when they were shown tracks andtraditional symbols by local Elder Rosie La La (pictured with thechildren). Prior to this, Judy Tchooga, Sheila Gordon and TamaraSeela told the students about the early beginnings of Yaruman-Ringer Soak and the first years of schooling at Birlirr Ngawiyiwu,which is currently celebrating 25 years of Catholic Education.

Photo: C Lord

Kununurra

Chandalene, looking a little shy, astride the motor bike with Ben and Lee. Photo: D Aspinall

Mulan


School News

Year 2students, assistedby their teachers,have created avegetable gardenand worm farmtogether withother recyclinginitiatives at HolyRosary School inDerby. Theultimate goal is tolearn about theimportance ofreusing productsthat are normallythrown out:newspapers,food scraps andso on.

Photo: A Buckle

It is always a productive and busy time at John Pujajangka-Piyirn School in Mulan! On 24 June the school celebrated its FeastDay, St John the Baptist, in a very special way starting withBluEarth activities. The Sports Carnival had the Yellow Eagles,Blue Pelicans and Red Dingoes all competing enthusiastically.Mass celebrated by Fr Antony was followed by a sausage sizzle forlunch and then by more races including a mothers’ race.

The Red Dingoes won the competition and will have ‘bragging rights’ for thenext 12 months! Photo: L Coyle

DerbyLIFE

It is sacredUnborn child at 19 weeks

Red Hill

The Sacrament of Reconciliation was celebrated at WarlawurruCatholic School Red Hill, Halls Creek, on Friday 18 June. Childrenwho received the Sacrament for the first time had prepared throughoutSecond Term. Their classmates were present at the celebration whichincluded the Jaru junba (song) ‘Gunag Wanduli’ which speaks of theNew Hope that Jesus brings to our lives. These same children receivedthe Sacrament of First Communion on Friday 25 June at the Masswhich celebrated the start of NAIDOC Week.

From left, Richelle Sturt, Zhianne, Markelle and Coburn Minga with Parish Priest FrDenis. Photo: D Savoia


School News

Warmun

There was plenty of action in the Intermediate Boys sprint. Photo: R Sheridan

On Friday 2 July, students from Ngalangangpum School in Warmun,East Kimberley, participated in the first part of their annual SportsCarnival. Such days bring out the spirit of the Kija people who aregracious both in victory and defeat; they also know how to have a reallygood time! The day was a huge success! Everyone participated withenthusiasm, and showed great sportsmanship throughout the day. Thecommunity watched with amusement and cheered on their familymembers and house teams. Victory went to the Red team which onlyjust out ran Gold and Blue.

Students from Genazzano College in Melbourne and Mount StJoseph’s in Sydney participated in cross cultural visits toNgalangangpum School and the Warmun Community in the EastKimberley during Term 2.

Genazzano students spent four days visiting classrooms, the artcentre and volunteering their time at the aged care centre. They were alsoinvolved in soccer activities, inspired by the World Cup. A great timewas had by all, as students demonstrated their talents with a soccer ball.

Mount St Joseph’s students were in involved in a variety ofactivities, both in and outside the school during their two weeks in thecommunity. These included attending a Corroboree at Bow River andan overnight trip to Crocodile Hole. Students helped out at the SportsCarnival helping out and participating in events on the day and teachingthe students a range of team chants.

Micki Tanna (centre wearing blue cap), of Genazzano, with soccer enthusiasts, fromleft, Sally Churchill, Tanya Gallagher, Sevanna Carrington, Cassius Nulgit, MazanneChurchill and Divina Malgil. Photo: L Hodge

Ngalangangpum School in Warmun was treated once again with avisit from music teacher Judy Hill. For the second year in a row, Judykindly donated her valuable time to visit the community and teachstudents a variety of music skills. This year Judy had the opportunity tobuild on skills she had worked on in the previous year. End of termassembly allowed students the opportunity to perform pieces they hadpractised over the two weeks - a wonderful performance!

Community Liaison Officer, Leanne Mosquito, organised a morningtea for parents and carers at Ngalangangpum School, Warmun, recently.It was an opportunity for parents and carers to come to the school andshare stories with each other about their kids. It was a lovely morningwhich involved jewellery making and plenty of yarning!

Richard Thomas proudly displays his string of beads. Photo: Sr M McDonnell RSJ

Catherine Mosquito was amongst those whoenjoyed making beautiful music. Photo: Sr M McDonnell RSJ

■ BELOW: Navarone Galova James (L) from Balgo and Andrew Chan (R) from La Salle College,Middle Swan WA, enjoy a cool dip at the dam near Balgo. The La Salle students wereon a placement at the Luurnpa Catholic School in the Kutjungka region; part of animportant immersion program for them and for Balgo. Photo: D Prevett

■ RIGHT: Di Peters (R) and Wendy Hansen were hard at work duringthe Saint Vin’s special racing day sale where there werebargains galore for everyone.Photo: S Starc

■ ABOVE: Sr Dorothy Fuller, of the Sisters of The Handmaid of Our Lord, recently returned toKununurra to visit her family. She was warmly welcomed by her brother, Button Jones, andmany other family members who were eager to introduce their children and grandchildren toher. She has now returned to her work in Melville Island.Photo: Sr A Porter RSJ

■ LEFT: Children fromNgalangangpum CatholicSchool atWarmun, tookthe opportunityto sit behind thewheel of aselection ofclassic carswhen theMatso’s CarRun paid theEast Kimberleysettlement avisit in June.

Photo: CAS


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■ ABOVE: Shirley Quaresimin, who resigned after thirty years inCatholic Education, was honored at Mass at theCathedral recently with the blessing song – a small wayto say thank you for a more than big contribution toCatholic Education. Photo: M Retel

issue 05august 2010 - broomediocese.org

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