“The Bush Ministry Fund is vital to supporting the people and parishes that live on and cultivate this land”
The Baru Beat
“Our parish has been blessed to have the support of The Rev’d Ross Ellwood as my training priest, thanks in large part to the BMF. The steady presence of Ross and his wife, Val, has been invaluable to my family in our first posting. They’re even giving gardening tips to Ken as we attempt to plant our first veggie “crop”. Fortunately, I haven’t seen any snakes yet,” says The Rev’d Courtney Smith from The Parish of Allora-Clifton
My introduction to The Parish of Allora-Clifton was a bit more exciting than expected. My husband, Ken, and I were sitting in the home of a parish wardens waiting for our “interview” to begin. A second warden finally came in apologetically, stating, “I had to dispatch a red-bellied black before I could leave the barn.”
Ummm…excuse me?!
Ken and I shared wide-eyed looks clearly showing our confusion and apprehension, because he continued, “…the snakes have been bad this month — this has to be the fourth or fifth one.”
As an American expat, I already believed that all Australian wildlife was trying to kill me, but I hadn’t actually seen a snake yet. Allora was as far west as I had ever been in the 14 years I’ve lived in Australia.
The conversation continued about the snakes, spiders and other creatures around the properties, including the parish rectory that we were hoping to move into. By this point, Ken and I were seriously reconsidering the calling to serve in our Diocese’s Western Region!
Thankfully, we persevered despite our fear of snakes and as the story has been retold, the snakes get bigger and meaner! For months, parishioners would go out of their way to tell me stories of the meanest, scariest snakes they’ve ever seen. I like to think it was the Aussie way of welcoming and accepting me into their fold.
Even though I grew up in a very rural area of the United States, and Allora feels like home to me, I am reminded daily that this is a place like few others. Whether it’s the awareness of weather and the real threat of drought, bushfires, or floods; the smell of the gumtrees after a rain; or the beauty of the sunrise over the fields, there is a deep spiritual connection to the land here that is contagious. Ken and I have both fallen in love with the view from our veranda and we take multiple pictures of it during the week.
Wednesday mornings are always an inspiring time for me as I lead a Morning Prayer service at St David’s, Allora. Three faithful women parishioners, Mr Darcy the dog and I sit close together, discuss the scripture reading and pray for the world and for our community. Dorothy, Heather and Jean are there most weeks teaching me about love, perseverance and being a good neighbour. One week our reading was 1 Corinthians 13 and as I looked over these beautiful women aged in their mid-80s and 90s I realised that I was looking at the kind of love Paul was writing about. Their lives, friendship and faithfulness are love in action. It humbles me and inspires me to follow their example.
The Bush Ministry Fund (BMF) is vital to supporting the people and parishes that live on and cultivate this land. Our parish has been blessed to have the support of The Rev’d Ross Ellwood as my training priest, thanks in large part to the BMF.
The steady presence of Ross and his wife, Val, has been invaluable to my family in our first posting. They’re even giving gardening tips to Ken as we attempt to plant our first veggie “crop”. Fortunately, I haven’t seen any snakes yet, but Mr Darcy and I are careful on our walks and prepared for that first encounter — and, I have my warden and other farmers on speed dial to come help!
The best part is the deep knowledge that these are good and faithful people who will come when their assistant curate needs a hand — even if she is a naïve American transplant!
Editor’s note: The Bush Ministry Fund money boxes are a fun and easy way for individuals, families, parishes and schools to donate to bush ministry in our Diocese. Order your BMF money box today by emailing Helen Briffa in the Western Region office via helen.briffa@anglicanchurchsq.org.au or by calling 07 4639 1875.
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