anglican focus

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

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children

Reflections Torres Strait Islander elder wearing a suit standing against a red brick wall Reflections

"The first Easter I remember"

“As a community, after the Easter Day service we celebrated the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with a big kai kai (feast). People from all over the Torres Strait Islands and Papua New Guinea (which was then still administered by Australia) came via sailing canoes rather than by motor boats, bringing seafood, taro, sweet potato, casava, sago and other traditional foods. We then had traditional dancing with men wearing headdresses made of emu feathers and women wearing grass skirts,” says Uncle Milton Walit from NATSIAC and The Parish of Laidley

Justice & Advocacy Two young Aboriginal children 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

"I think it’s morally right and common sense that the first inhabitants of this land should be formally acknowledged in our Constitution through the Voice," (Jill Rylatt from St John’s, Hervey Bay in 2023)
Justice & Advocacy

Why I am voting “yes" in the referendum: Jill Rylatt

“In my experience, the best way to find out what’s working and what’s not is to ask the people who are receiving the services. The Voice will be an advisory body, and when it’s up and running Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members from the grassroots will be able to communicate via a direct avenue to Parliament about why ‘the gap’ isn’t closing and how best to close it,” says former nurse Jill Rylatt from St John’s, Hervey Bay
Homilies & Addresses

The Voice: from the grassroots and the seashores

“God blesses us through the ocean as the waves and the current go in and out. The ocean is sacred to us. 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 ocean. She then took me to the church for the service,” says Torres Strait Islander Elder Aunty Dr Rose Elu

Films & TV

The New Boy

“While cinemas have plenty of foreign films screening, mainly of the mainstream blockbuster variety, it is refreshing and worth celebrating that a historical Australian film, continuing the tradition of cinematic storytelling on Australian themes and First Nations matters, gets a decent cinema release around the country,” says The Rev’d Canon Gary Harch

Get some soul in your inbox

Thank you for subscribing

By submitting your details above to receive anglican focus communications, you consent to the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information in accordance with the Collection Notice and the Diocese’s Privacy Policy.