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The news site of the Anglican Church Southern Queensland: nourishing and connecting our faith community

Churchwarden and Synod Representative for the Torres Strait Non-Geographic Parish, ACSQ Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group member and Executive Member of NATSIAC

Aunty Dr Rose Elu

About Aunty Dr Rose -

Aunty Dr Rose Elu is on the General Synod Standing Committee in the Anglican Church of Australia; a member of the ACSQ Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group; a Churchwarden and Synod Representative for the Torres Strait Non-Geographic Parish; an Executive Member of National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican Council (NATSIAC); a member of the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change; and, a family support counsellor with Relationships Australia. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Political Science from the University of Queensland, a PhD in Customary Law from the University of Hawaii, a Diploma in Counselling and further post graduate studies in Theology from St Francis College. Aunty Dr Rose was the 2021 Queensland Senior Australian of the Year.

 

Aunty Dr Rose writes on -

Articles by Aunty Dr Rose

Local Australian, Queensland, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags Local

Statement from Anglican Church Southern Queensland leaders in support of the Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry and the Path to Treaty Act

“We first acknowledge the resilience and wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly their willingness to engage so collaboratively and constructively in treaty and truth-telling processes…Treaty and truth-telling are essential elements to ensuring healing and reconciliation and to effectively addressing the socio-economic targets in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap,” say Archbishop Jeremy, Aunty Dr Rose, The Rev’d Canon Bruce, Bishop Cam, Bishop John, Bishop Sarah, Bishop Daniel and the Cathedral Dean

Justice & Advocacy

Keeping the home fires burning — a very long way from home

“I have shared something of my culture here with you — how muiy (fire) gives physical and spiritual strength to my people. I have shared this from the warmth that I have for you in my heart. I encourage you to similarly share with someone this NAIDOC Week something of your culture, speaking from the warmth in your own heart. What keeps your pride in your culture burning?” asks Aunty Dr Rose Elu

Resources & Research

My experience navigating the Anglican Church as a Torres Strait Islander person

“I also often invite other Anglicans to see that Torres Strait Islander Christians are Christians in our own way. We seamlessly blend our ancient sovereign ways and knowledges as Traditional Custodians with the wider Church’s ways and knowledges. For example, as part of my baptism as a baby, my mum removed my clothing and nappy and held me up in the sea breeze to be sprayed, to first be blessed, by the malu (ocean). She then took me to the church for the service,” says Aunty Dr Rose Elu

Justice & Advocacy

Seeking nourishment, healing and a way forward after the referendum

“One of the greatest tragedies of the referendum outcome is that the lives of non-Indigenous Australians who voted ‘no’ will continue on the same just as their lives would have continued on the same if they had voted ‘yes’. It is the lives of First Nations peoples who will be impacted by the referendum result — and negatively so for decades to come,” says Aunty Dr Rose Elu

Justice & Advocacy

Post-referendum RAP Working Group statement

“Last week the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican Council (NATSIAC) — the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice to General Synod — gathered for their annual meeting in Newcastle…During the meeting, the overwhelming majority of NATSIAC report presenters expressed their sadness and dismay at the referendum result. There was also a sense that the referendum result exposed a deeper darkness in this land…There was a lingering feeling of deep sadness, as well as bewilderment, dismay and a fear for the future, especially for the future of our children,” say The Rev’d Canon Bruce Boase, Aunty Dr Rose Elu and Aunty Sandra King OAM