Good News Story

It was great to hear that one of our younger parishioners, J, a wonderful sax player in a youth band went with his con-freres to Inverbrackie on Christmas Eve to help the new residents of the detention centre celebrate their first Australian Christmas.

His mother, R, was agog at her son having to pass through a security cordon but also thrilled that he was having to confront some of the real stuff that we as Australians have to deal with today.

This is what we need more of, our children being exposed to the reality that you can meet people from vastly different backgrounds and then play soccer with them and find that they are just the same as us.

Inverbrackie!!!

There is little doubt in my mind that in this land of the “fair go” most genuine Australians are not fearful of refugees. All strength to those of the Woodside community (and beyond) who are standing up to the scaremongering of those who, for what ever reason, are shouting at us that we should be frightened of women and children to be housed at Inverbrackie!
This time last year I was at the wedding of a young man, born in Iran who had for some time been housed at the Baxter Detention Centre. I was struck as I watched the photographs being taken of this man’s statuesque father and his extended family how much this looked like my own Dad and his descendants. My God (and I use this term advisedly) we are all the same!!!