anglican focus

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

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge

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

Resources & Research Saibai Elder Aunty Dr Rose Elu wearing a dress featuring the crocodile totem of her chieftain clan 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

"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
Justice & Advocacy

Why I am voting “yes” in the referendum: Reg Dean

“The proposed constitutional amendment is well worded. When I found out in the church presentation that Parliament will determine the Voice’s ‘composition, functions, powers and procedures’, I realised that the constitutional text makes sense. I personally think that it’s all good. I encourage voters to read this proposed constitutional text because, at the end of the day, it’s the only thing we are voting on in the referendum,” says Reg Dean from The Parish of Bundaberg West

Justice & Advocacy

Why I am voting “yes” in the referendum: Aiden Wu

“I believe that the Voice will help enable more culturally safe and person-centred healthcare because we would be able to better shape the policies that impact us. We need to keep our kids healthy and in school if we are to later see them in university rather than in prison,” says Torres Strait Islander man and nursing student Aiden Wu from St John’s College within the University of Queensland

Justice & Advocacy

Why I am voting “yes” in the referendum: Barry Kuskopf

“Indigenous peoples have ancient cultures and ancient wisdom to share, including solutions from the grassroots to address the inter-generational impacts of children being stolen from their families. I am convinced that the Voice to Parliament will allow these solutions to be communicated in an effective way to enable healing,” says Barry Kuskopf from Christ Church, St Lucia

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.