National Briefs
A baptismal call
WORLD Mission Month Appeal this year focuses on the work of the Good Shepherd Sisters in Thailand, supporting children from vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds. “We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard, and our baptism calls us to be missionary disciples,” Catholic Mission National Director Fr Brian Lucas said. “This is why the Kindergarten Centre, run by Sr Chalaad and the Good Shepherd Sisters, is so important.”
Catholic Mission Australia
Never too old
THE winner of ACU’s Prize for Poetry Anna Murchison is an inspiration to late starters in any field. The winner of the $10,000 prize, Australia’s richest for poetry, did not start writing poetry until she was 50. For the Hobart-based poet, winning is confirmation that she is right to take the courageous step of becoming a writer at 54. Murchison’s winning poem Child of Gath-hepher explores her feelings when son Jonah needed urgent surgery. Keith Harrison, of Canberra, received a highly commended for Cadences for Ms. Weznecki.
Australian Catholic University
Land gesture makes history
IN an historic gesture, the Catholic Church has made land available for Aboriginal cultural renewal near McLaren Vale, South Australia. Archbishop Patrick O’Regan and Karl Winda Telfer, senior traditional owner, have signed an agreement which provides tenure to a 3.5ha registered Aboriginal site for Mr Telfer and his descendants for 50 years. The land is part of an ancient campground known as Kanyanyapilla occupied by his ancestors for several thousand years.
Southern Cross Adelaide
Warmth for the homeless
LOURDES Hill College principal Robyn Anderson is proud of the blankets her staff and students knitted for Brisbane’s homeless and vulnerable people. The blankets were part of a middle school project, Blankets for Brisbane, which has run for the past nine years. This year, Lourdes Hill handed out 40 blankets to those in need.
The Catholic Leader