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The Bishop

writes
is, are we able to put ourselves Civilisation - Oodgeroo
in other peoples shoes and see
something from their perspective? We who came late to civilization,
Jesus parables were often aimed Missing a gap of centuries,
at the religious establishment who When you came
were good at insisting what was we marvelled and admired,
the religious and often civil law and But with foreboding.
all had to conform. Today we live in We had so little but we had
just as judgmental a society and the happiness,
Dear Friends, ability of people to put themselves in Each day a holiday,

I am writing this on the eve


of taking some leave during
October and prior to returning for
anothers shoes I feel has diminished.
Sadly, so much treatment of Australias
For we were people
before we were citizens,
Before we were rate payers,
first peoples has been from the point Tenants, customers,
a final three weeks in November of view that we are right and you are employees, parishioners.
and the laying up of the bishops wrong! Or, we know better than you How could we understand
staff on Saturday 2 December. It will ever know yourself. White mans gradings,
has been a remarkable experience Oodgeroos words are as rigid and unquestioned,
to be Bishop of Bendigo and I contemporary now as they ever were You sacred totems
and are a mirror for us to look in as a of Lord and Lady,
have enjoyed writing this monthly Highness and Holiness,
nation, as a church and in our individual
column for The Spirit. communities. They are the words of Eminence, Majesty.
Recently early one Sunday morning someone who can see both sides, but We could not understand
I heard on the radio a recording of at the same time have an overtone of Your strange cult of uniformity,
the Aboriginal poet Oodgeroo (Kath humanity and compassion. This mass obedience
Walker) reading her poem Civilization. to clocks, timetables.
I hope the poem speaks to you as it
Puzzled, we wondered why
Its a poem that I was deeply moved has to me.
The importance to you,
by because its from someone who Blessings, urgent and essential,
is not a white Australian, or a more Of ties and gloves,
recent resident of this country, but Shoe polish, uniforms.
comes from a Koori woman whose New to us were jails and
origins in this country go back 60,000 orphanages,
years and who, as the first peoples of Rents and taxes,
this land, still struggle for an identity Banks and mortgages.
and recognition. We who had so few things,
Spirit
The Monthly newsmagazine
of the Anglican Diocese
There has been a huge ruckus in recent of Bendigo the prime things,
weeks about a plebiscite that we have Address: The Spirit, PO Box 2, Bendigo 3552 We had no policeman,
all been asked to express an opinion Member, Australian Religious Press Association lawyers, middlemen,
Telephone: 03 5443 4711 Brokers, financers, millionaires.
in, but the first peoples of this land
General: thespirit@bendigoanglican.org.au
have been waiting for over a century So they bewildered us,
Publishing Editor: Sarah Crutch
to be recognised in the constitution Consultant: The Revd Dr Charles Sherlock
all the new wonders,
of this land and still they wait. The Spirit is published in the first week of the Stocks and shares, real estate,
month (excluding January). compound interest,
For over two hundred years white Advertising rates are available from the sales and investments.
Australians have largely held the view Editor. All advertisements are accepted at
Oh, we have benefited,
that Aboriginal and Torres Straits Island the Editors discretion; acceptance does not
imply endorsement of the product or service. we have been lifted,
people need to be enlightened. The Contributions are welcome, and will be with new knowledge,
thing I like most about Oodgeroos edited. Email contributions are preferred. a new world opened.
poem is that she is looking at us from Anonymous articles will not be considered
for publication. Photographs should be sent Suddenly caught up
her eyes and perhaps we have much in digital form to the general email address in white man ways.
to learn from them! above. Full size, raw files are necessary. Gladly and gratefully we accepted,
Physical photos are normally not returned.
The poem has a strong sense of those The Anglican Diocese of Bendigo and the And this is nescessity.
parables of Jesus that contain the Editor are not responsible for opinions But remember, white man,
injunction: So the last will be first, expressed by contributors, nor do these if life is for happiness,
necessarily reflect the policy of the diocese.
and the first will be last (Matthew You too surely have
Contributions for the next issue must be
20:16). Part of the message here submitted by Friday 24 November 2017. much to change.

Spirit
The
2 october/november 2017 www.bendigoanglican.org.au

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