TallTreesReSource

HEALING WITH STOLEN GENERATIONS        Plans are well under way in the Bringing Them Home Ctee WA for Sorry Day May 26 2011 at Wellington Square East Perth. It is attracting larger support in government and business sectors as well as education and community sectors. Once again there will be heaps of tabloid activities all over the square run by school children, stalls by collaborating groups, music, reconciliation walk and sausage and Yonga (roo) sizzle. We aim to build significantly upon the 1000+ school children last year, by targeting the hard-to-get-to government schools, and providing web-linked educational resources for both schools and adult groups. Aboriginal and Reconciliation Flags will fly at all city entries and along St Georges Terrace for two weeks. Has that ever happened before?

While  2009-10 was a terror due to the impact of the Redress Scheme in WA, this year we are involved in seeing two very positive steps. Plans are well advanced for Reconciliation WA to be relaunched (WA is the only state or territory without such a body) as a peak body linking many groups. AND the much vaunted central city river shore re-development is to include a signature international centre that celebrates Indigenous cultures. I can hardly believe it.

 

FROM THE CHAIR OF TALL TREES       Once again I commend these growing Tall Trees ventures to you. Please support them by praying these things into life. They all involve monetary costs, so donations to one or some of these projects to help share the weight are appreciated. We are about changing hearts and minds in line with how Jesus operates, to make a difference that last in the things that matter - and it starts with ourselves. Pray for our humility, for staying on the level, for attentiveness to each person and situation.

Jacqui Robinson

end of Report Summer 2010/2011

 

 

WINTER 2010   FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD

Dear Supporters of Tall Trees ReSource,

I commend to you Ian's report and encourage you to zoom in with your imagination on all Ian brings to these ventures that are on the edge of modern life and modern religious life. He walks his talk, and the context is very much a 'fierce landscape' which he speaks of in his desert spirituality work. He is drawn forward by his Calling, the Holy Spirit, and all your support, love and friendship and belief in him. May your curiosity in what he is doing lead you to ask more questions to deepen your understanding and growth and involvement, in the issues and in Tall Trees.

It is always hard to start something new and for us all to incorporate the new thing in our established patterns of giving, but I would entreat you to consider including Tall Trees in your regular giving.

Also intentionally share what Ian does, with your friends and colleagues, and please consider a desert trip next year. Maybe organize a group. My annual desert trip is a highlight and I go out a little further physically, and metaphorically and spiritually each time.

Sincerely

Jacqui Robinson

Chair of Tall Trees Board

KEEP THE DATE FREE

Tall Trees inaugural AGM Saturday Oct 23 10am. All donors are eligible to become members.

Launch of Ian’s first desert book, This Thirsty Heart, with a provocative narrative and 110 stunning photos.

WHAT’s COMING UP FOR TALL TREES SEPT-NOV

 Finalise publication of Makes You Wonder and This Thirsty Heart. Each of these will incur production expenses of $1000 or more.

 Present paper at Spiritual Directors’ National Symposium in Melbourne in late October.

 Attend Campfire 2010 Sept24-26 at Yealering, hosted by PNEUMA..

 Attend Mission and Evangelism national network Nov 16-18 Goldcoast. Launch of  Makes You Wonder.

 Attend Stolen Generations Alliance A GM as WA Non-Indig rep Nov 12-14 Brisbane

PNEUMA CampFIRE is on again this year at Yealering over the long weekend in September Saturday 25th - Monday 27th September 2010. This year's speaker is Gil Cann from Victoria. Gil has served in pastoral, evangelistic, church renewal, leadership training and writing ministries for over forty years. He works with churches of all denominations throughout Australia and sometimes overseas. This is going to be another great weekend to be refreshed, encouraged and challenged as we seek to represent Jesus in all we do and say. Contact me for the brochure.

IAN IS CO-CONVENOR OF STOLEN GENERATIONS IN WA- WALKING THERECONCILIATION ROAD 

Sorry Day on May 26 required many ‘schools’ meetings, site meetings, calls, emails and committee meetings. It ran very smoothly on the day, and Ian was the non-Aboriginal MC alongside Laurence Krakouer. Around 1500 people attended, the best for many years, including 700-800 school kids doing tabloid activities and listening to elders of the Stolen Generations. Flags flew on flagpoles around the city for an unprecedented three weeks. We also received our best yet sponsorship and the most volunteers. Highlights included the young Aboriginal men who were involved for the first time. Stories of change and examples of reconciliation came from every group who took the stage, and some great things took place there and then in the crowd.

The Bringing Them Home Ctee have set up a new Educational project to research the gaps in available educational materials around Stolen Gen aspirations. This involved defining parameters, employing and directing a worker. Alongside this, we started to document policy arising from recent Sorry Days, stuff that is in my head and various minutes.

However, we have again failed in our efforts to create a mechanism for consulting statewide. We need a project officer to help with setting this up. The federal senate stepped backwards from their earlier decision to hold hearings about compensation levels for people harmed by government actions. They wish to exclude forced removals. We will be making submissions.

Ian continues to give a few occasional community addresses, on “What One Whitefella has Learned on Reconciliation Road”, which thrills some and threatens others.

IAN IS DIRECTOR OF SPIRIT JOURNEYS – AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STILLNESS AND DEPTH IN THE DESERT.

http://arids.atspace.com www.desertjourneys.com

The winter is a busy time. We have held group meetings, managed registrations and cancellations, done map work finding routes and information, sought permits, shopped and packed food (with great help from Jacqui, Maureen, Sharon, Kylie and Tiana) and equipment for three journeys in WA - June 19-25, June 27-Jul 6, and Sept 11-17. The group in the Simpson were badly rained out! Want to see some photos from the WA end?

http://picasaweb.google.com.au/iandtrobinson/SpiritJourneys201002#

http://picasaweb.google.com/paulkeys000/AndNowForDesert?feat=directlink

In July we resumed positive negotiations with the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture in Canberra, an arm of Charles Sturt University, asking them to ‘adopt’ ARIDS (The Australian Research Institute for Desert Spirituality) as a centre within their orbit. The partnership would add credibility and accountability to ARIDS, and add a fresh and vital perspective to ACC&C.

After yet more hard work, and with the able support of Insomnia Design, This Thirsty Heart is almost ready to be printed. This beautifully illustrated book traces the desert journey of ten ‘fictitious’ people using Ian’s real-life research and experiences. It will be launched on October 23rd. This will be a superb gift item also.

IAN TEACHES AND MODELS MISSIONAL LEADERSHIP- HELPING PEOPLE TO MAKE THE NECESSARY CHANGES.

The developmental course Leadership In Mission and Evangelism (LIME) at Murdoch Uni has been cancelled due to lack of registrations, but will go ahead as a reading group. It will be launched by Gil Cann on Sept 29 at 9am. Other events are Sept 29-Oct 1. This is even more exciting for me because there will be no marking of assignments! Contact me for details.

The Leadership Intensive has held retreats at Chittering, Applecross, Lesmurdie and Yallingup, with an enrolment of twenty people – Anglican Baptist and Uniting clergy and Uniting Care divisional managers. Marg and I are receiving great feedback, and seeing an emerging teamwork. We are unsure how to decide about 2011, but there is growing interest.

The production of the faith-sharing resource Makes You Wonder (MYW) is half way to complete, incorporating graphics and layout work. and parts of it will trial as professional development for teachers in Christian schools. It is the successor and revision of ‘Gossiping the Gospel’ and therefore should also find an international reputation.

Ian has really enjoyed meeting with the students in the Evangelism for Evangelists (E4E) course, now half-way through, and we are looking at a national roll-out. As you would expect from Tall Trees, it brings a strong and fresh perspective to an ancient biblical calling, based around respect and authenticity.

Ian has spoken at a VOSE Seminary retreat, a YouthCARE Conference or two, and SU Transform conference.

GENERAL PICTURE

When Ian said:”I should be right by the end of April, or maybe May”, it was all lies. The eye problem that hit him very hard in February is still lurking. It is now September and his eyes are still unstable, easily tired and occasionally painful. It holds him back.

On the other hand, Marg and Ian took a holiday in April for a wedding in Bendigo then on to Thoona, Canberra, and Sydney. And then in Ubud Bali for a very wonderful familyweek in August. Then, we bought a new mobile phone, and the world caved in!

IAN CONCLUDES

In Tall Trees initiatives and in my day job at Uni of WA (contact me if you want to hear about that ministry too), I am always finding strategic opportunities to bring positive influence. Every step adds something. There is a long way to go before Australians respond to the Holy Spirit instead of the lure of wealth, before Reconciliation Road is a treasured memory, before leaders lead the church into service instead of leading church services. I am so grateful for those who support us in prayer and encouragement. I cannot see how these things could happen without you.

God is good.

Blessings,

Winter 2010