Meetings, Meetings everywhere!

Dear All,
Last night I went to the first meeting of priests and religious in Darwin for 2009. The group used to be called 'Spirit of the North' and was for the mutual support of the many priests and religious up here. It was going 20 years ago when I was first here. People from outlying places were unable to attend - Alice Springs, Katherine, Wadeye, Nguiu etc etc, so about half of those in the Territory were there. Congregations involved were: MSC priests and brothers, OLSH sisters, Canossian sisters, Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa's lot), Sisters of St Anne, Missionaries of God's Love, Sisters of Mercy, Diocesan Priests (& the Bishop). Here are the photos of the group able to attend - I told them they might appear on my blog and none of them left the room).

(1) Behind the equipment in Photo 1 is Bishop Eugene Hurley, formerly Bishop of Port Pirie. Third across on his left is Bishop Ted Collins, msc, the retired Bishop of the Diocese. Beside the Bishop is a priest from India and then an msc brother. The fourth person is David, a priest from the Missionaries of God's Love who is out at Martin de Porres Centre not far from where I am an Nungalinya. When I have finished my Thesis I will go to Sunday Mass out there because it is a particularly Aboriginal Mass Centre, although others come too because they like it.

(2) In the far left of the centre photo you can see the other two olsh currently in Darwin - Sr Lorraine who works at St John's College, and Sr Elizabeth who is a Chancellor in the Diocese and is in charge of where I live at St Mary's. She has a long history in Primary Schools in Darwin and in the Territory including 17 years at Wadeye, so she is a great source of information and support to me. Next comes a Diocesan priest who hails from Malanda originally, an msc brother, two St Anne sisters, and an msc priest.
(3) This group shows a Missionary of Charity, Fr Louis (not sure what Order he is from but he was at Karama when I was here in the 80s and is still there), an msc priest, another priest, a St Anne sister, and Rose, a sister of Mercy who works at Centacare I gathered!

(1) The first photo shows the retired Bishop, Fr David then Fr Malcolm Fyfe - the other Chancellor in the Diocese and the brother of our Superior General, Sr Mary Fyfe. Then you can see a Canossian sister and our olsh Sisters, Lorraine & Liz again.

(2) These birds were not at the meeting! But I needed to put three photos in, so ....... ! These curlews inhabit the Nungalinya grounds - a mother and offspring, I suspect.

(3) This was one of these photos that can be set up remotely and then the photographer has to rush into the appointed place. It turned out OK but I would have avoided all the legs if I had taken it by 'eye'. Fr Brian Healy was the PP at Casuarina when I was here in the 80s then he subsequently was PP of Alice Springs. He helps at the Cathedral now. Then you have the Canossian, Sr Angela, who has been in Australia since the trouble in East Timor a while back when she was one of the ones evacuated to Darwin. Next you have 'moi', then a Sister of St Anne. (Don't forget you can enlarge the outside photos by clicking on them)

Nungalinya

Today (Wednesday) we have our first whole-Staff Gathering at Nungalinya with the Deputy Principal, Jane, who will take us through all the things we have to do to be ready for re-accreditation in the second half of the year. With permission of all involved, I took some photos. We have the meeting in the Conference Room, which is very well set up for such things.

(1) Jane (Deputy & Presenter ), Joanne (back) & Amanda - both involved in 'FACS' - Family & Community Services.

(2) Ken, Catherine, Renee & Vince - Ken & Catherine have support role; Renee is the Receptionist, and Vince teaches, but I don't know what department

(3) Joanne, Dorothy & Helen would rather sit on the floor. Most indigenous people would!

(1) Evelyn and Mina are involved in SIFS (Shaping Indigenous Futures)

(2) Kerry, Lee & Rob are all involved in Theology Teaching; of course Lee, being the Principal, is involved in everything!

(3) Tim, Jane & Lorraine are all involved in Theology also.

Now finally I will include the photo of myself and Joanne whcih was taken remotely by the set-up camera. This works well on this camera and the photos generally turn out well.

Today was a 'head-dead' day for me by the finish! All this recording and quality assurance and assessment recording and ...... All the teachers who read this know just how much paper-work is involved with teaching nowdays. Well, this looks as though it will be more than even what happens in schools!!

!!!!! Sigh!!!!!! Life will improve when I know a bit more about the place and meet up with some students! God bless. Rita