HOME AGAIN

There are only two weeks left in this action-packed third school term and we better hurry to let you share in the great times we have had. I returned home on 22 August, just in time to celebrate NAIDOC with the community and prepare a group of children for Baptism and First Communion, which we celebrated this morning during Mass. This has been a very happy time for me, after the 6 months of inactivity and just trying to get mobile again. Though still severely restricted by the remaining paralysis of my left hand, I was joyfully received back in the community and just do what I can do. Daily Mass is very important for a number of adults and the preparation for the Sacraments was long overdue. Through the grace and mercy of God and with the help of dedicated "carers" in the community I have been able to deliver some service. I’m sure that God doesn’t want me at present to do the things I’m still not able to do. Please pray for God’s healing power to complete his work of restoration.

During Holy Mass this morning, Sunday, 14 September, 10 children received Baptism. They are: Sherona, Bianca and Jeremiah Boona, Sandra Toby, Kyle Egan, Leonie Boddington, Olivia Radegonde, Kayden Egan, Kieren Mitchell and Giles Gilbert.

The first five also received Jesus for the first time in the Holy Eucharist, together with five others, who were baptized earlier in their lives. The whole community was jubilant at seeing their brothers and sisters follow Jesus’ call and being given His new life. Please pray for these children that they now live their faith courageously and reflect God’s love in their lives.

Last Sunday we started NAIDOC WEEK with a solemn Eucharist in which we sang the Missa Kimberley that Fr Kevin McKelson and the Bidyadanga Community have developed many years ago. These songs are a very powerful proclamation of our faith. The whole community is involved in celebrating the Eucharist. Alan Egan gave a short homily in which he reminded us of the blessings God gave to his people through the Wandalgu community.

Every day of the week that started in this way a special guest visited us and built us up with telling us the story of their lives and letting us share their achievements. We thank Phil and Jason Bartlett, Josie Boyle, Adrian Bartlett, Dale Kickett, Clarrie Cameron, Phil Moncrieff and Kathleen Gregory for giving us the honour of their presence and the joy of learning their story. We look forward to staying in contact with them and learning more from them during the year. They’re great role models and a source of wisdom.

On my first Sunday back at Wandalgu I was able on behalf of the Wandalgu Community, to welcome staff who had joined us in my absence. The merciful Lord keeps inspiring generous people to give some period of their lives to his cause in the service of the Wandalgu Community. We are constantly renewed and refreshed by their advent and by the special gifts they have to offer.

At this occasion we were able to welcome Mario & Maree Campitelli. Chris Webb, Leonie Boddington, Michael O’Dene & Amanda Simpson. Most of them were no strangers. Leonie, Michael and Amanda had spent some of their school years with us. Mario and Maree had done a two years’ Lay Missionary service in our community in the 1980s. Thanks to all for coming back! I can say that we now have a vibrant, loving community in which all give their very best.

At present we have the lowest number of students for years. Some parents didn’t send their children back to us after the holidays and we also had to send some students back to their parents when difficulties arose. Wandalgu Hostel is not a Government but a private place and enrolments or discharges are negotiated between the parents and the hostel administration. After placing children in our care it, of course, remains the parents’ prerogative to reverse the decision and re-unite their family in their own home when their situation is favourable for such a move. However, for an efficient running of this facility and stability of the 8 groups it is highly desirable that the movement of children is discussed with the hostel administration and that we know beforehand when a change is being contemplated. Parents, please communicate!

Now I will sit back and let staff and children tell their story.

Kind regards and best wishes,
Yours sincerely
Fr Gerhard

During the third term we welcomed Fr Gerhard back. After six months of therapy he returned to his much loved Wandalgu to resume his duties. It’s wonderful to have holy mass everyday once again. Also returning was Marinus Jans, great to see Marinus back with his happy and obliging nature and his many skills. With Father’s return a garage was needed for his red Chariot (his means of transport). Marinus and Mario using their wealth of experience built a fine structure, which complements the other buildings and has added much convenience to all concerned.

In the beginning God dreamed a great and wonderful dream. All things were measured and ruled with providential insight. In God’s dream all created things enjoyed to take part in God’s wonderful plan.

God’s plan was refreshing as clear water and teeming with life in which the order of things to be… would come to pass! This plan was wise from the very beginning. Through it all things conceivable would be formed in love; formed in God’s time of dreaming. It is the dream of the one who is wise and always was wise.

God made man who could wonder at this dream, imagine what it would be like and bear the fruits of the dream in real life; in the life of time and space.

Jesus fulfilled the dream as he died on the cross and only in him our dream can come true – the heart of Jesus is full of dreams in which he knows the fulfillment of our individual dreams. He dreams of us personally; a dream burning with love for us; but we, like him, need someone to teach us the meaning of dreaming.

As is natural, Mary, the mother of Jesus, taught him how to live his dream. As is natural, our Mother Mary teaches us to live the dream of Jesus’ love for us.

Mother Mary became the Lady or Mother of All Nations, of all people… and this is how she taught us to pray.

"Lord Jesus Christ, son of the Father, send now your spirit over the Earth. Let the Holy Spirit live in the hearts of all the Nations that they may be preserved from degeneration, disaster and war. May the Lady of all Nations, who once was Mary, be our Advocate! Amen."

Mary gives birth to the dream of Jesus in our hearts. She teaches us the Spirit of that dream and shows us how to become like her Son Jesus.

Well, here it is 2003 and once again we are back in Tardun after sixteen years. After receiving our Volunteers in Action Newsletter in mid-August and reading Father Ray’s urgent request for extra staff at Tardun we thought, " Let’s go!" Within ten days we were here as the House Parents of the senior girls. We have five girls: Rebecca affectionately known as Willy, Terri, Zoe, Vanetta, and Bernie. Great girls who get along well with each other and who accepted us warmly. Mario does work outside our house as well, once again he is baking the bread, which much to his delight received two first prizes at the Mullewa show, He is also helping Brother John. Mario and Marinus have just finished a covered patio area outside Father Gerhard’s room, for protection from the weather.

It is great to be back at Tardun, although we must admit to being a bit homesick for our family. When we were here last time two of our children were here with us which helped us to feel at home .It’s great to catch up with old friends as well. Father Gerhard, the Brothers and Maurice and Colleen and their family were all here last time and along with everyone else made us feel most welcome. Thank You.

It was a privilege to be at the first community mass celebrated by Father Gerhard on his return to Tardun. The Church was so full of love and emotion and Father was so pleased to be home.

I think each time you leave Tardun a part of you stays here and I’m sure when we leave at Christmas it will be the same, but who knows God’s plans for our lives.
God Bless and Bye for now! Maree and Mario

Almost 12 months ago I arrived in Tardun from Germany. And in these 12 months, I experienced and saw so many things I could write a book about. I started working in the kitchen with Melissa and Colleen, who helped me a lot in the first time where everything was new, thanks for that! In the latter time I was a Houseparent for the Junior Primary Girls. I enjoyed being with the girls, I wish them the very best for their future!

Thank you Father Gerhard for giving me the opportunity to live and work with the people here in the Hostel, it was such a great step in my life!

Thank you all staff for supporting me so much, for all your help, for spending so much time with me and making the last year one of the best of my life!

Good bye and love, Irmi

A young aboriginal man dying of cancer gained much consolation and strength from saying a prayer that some St Vincent de Paul people brought to him in hospital. In times of great distress you may need a prayer like this. 

Hello everyone! Now I have time to catch my breath, and am happy to give an update of what has been happening concerning my musical contribution at Wandalgu. As most of you know, a major focus throughout the last two terms has been the involvement of 'Wandalgu Rock' (the boys' band) with Star Search 2003. This annual event started in 1999 to promote talent in the performing arts of children between the ages of 7-19, throughout Western Australia. With over 700 entries this year, we won a preliminary heat in Perth and thus qualified for the finals. Last weekend, we returned to Perth and had the opportunity of a lifetime to perform at the Burswood Theatre on the 20th of September. What an experience! I'm happy to give you blow by blow details in person, but to write it all down in this article would double the size of the publication.

Anyway, as most of the world knows by now, we were awarded 'Runner-Up' in the Pop/Rock band category. I, for one, am very proud of the way these young men rose to the occasion at this prestigious event. The growth they've shown during this year in becoming a real rock band through developing a group visual image - and more importantly, a group sound - has been extremely rewarding for me as a teacher, and has impacted on all of us at Wandalgu in some way. More than the result at Burswood, I am excited about the potential for the future of the members of 'Wandalgu Rock', and indeed all of the students at the hostel who are musically inclined (which is about everybody). This band is just the tip of the iceberg as far as the budding talent that exists here, Every week that I come to teach, I sense an evolving positive growth of music through the genuine interest shown by the very talented young people who live here. I am happy to be an integral part of the Wandalgu enterprise and thank you all for your ongoing support - particularly Father Gerhard, Colleen and Maurice, Kyung, Maria, Dave and Father Ray.

By the way, I've' blown the dust off my costumes, shaved my beard and have recently re-emerged as children's entertainers 'Oom-Pa-Pa Clown' and 'Uncle Jump' (that's why I'm called 'U.J,'). After extensive involvement at the Mingenew Expo, I anticipate continued part-time performance in this field - because it's so much fun! I'm also concentrating on my own song writing, recording and performance, I continue to teach children outside of Wandalgu and Christian Brothers' Agricultural School - privately and in school workshops. When asked about future aspirations, I could fill a book. Suffice it to say that it has to do with music and children - thus helping to make this world a more harmonious place in which to live.

When I started to go to school at Wandalgu I first had to make new friends. This made me feel better and better. My teacher’s name is Phil. He has given me some maths and reading to do for my homework, and when we come back from school we often go bike ridding and we watch TV.

I like playing guitar or listening to Keval playing. When I see Jerry playing he makes me laugh. Sometimes he gets hypo and when he drinks Pepsi it make’s him laugh all the time. We call him Joe.

Today, 18 Sept 2003, we went to Geraldton to perform at the Clock Tower in the Mall. After the performance we went to Maitland Park for lunch. Then we went to Francis Xavier School and watched a circus act by a visiting group. Then we went back home. It was a very nice day we all enjoyed.

On the weekend all of us S. P. Boys went bike riding. After bike riding we put the bikes away in the bike shed and went back to our house to watch football and have lunch. Then all of us boys played football because watching AFL games makes us want to play footy.

All of us boys went to a feastday with Chris, and we had a drum session as well. We have also been doing plays in Geraldton and that is fun because I play the Didgeridoo. We also had the NCVISSA Athletics Carnival and Carlo got runner up in his age group. We like watching him play the guitar because he is good.

In the week from 6 to 14 September, Wandalgu Hostel celebrated NAIDOC Week. During that week we have had people come from all over Western Australia to tell us about their work or singsongs to us. Some told us true stories that have happened in their lives and how they lived when they were kids about our age. On Friday we had an OPEN day. That same day the Primary school kids played an act for us, which was about a bird that brought fire to the communities. Then about 5 o’clock the junior and senior girls danced behind a white sheet, which had an overhead projector on them. What the girls were doing was trying to trick the little kids and see who could get the most points. But the girls were tricking them and were changing places when JOHN said, " I’ll just check" well when he said that and we started changing the kids at the front were getting hyped up because they knew that we were tricking them. But every one had a great time and enjoyed themselves, which was great to see.

On17 September we had our Open Night at Morawa High School. It was a good night because we surfed the Internet and held a very good maths competition. I won a chocolate for entering in the competition.

Wandalgu Rock played some tunes and they sounded great. On Friday morning Wandalgu Rock went to Perth for the final in Star Search. Bet they are going to be the best band there!

My name is Erin but my family calls me Kapula. I don’t like staying here at Wandalgu because I miss my family too much. But I learn lots of stuff. I wrote a long story about Keval, Carlo, Ricky, Cassandra, Bianca and me. Sandra, Cassandra Bianca, Halijah, Courtney, Leonie, Olivia, Rikkisha and Bobbie are my friends and that is all that I want to say.

My name is Bobbie Jones and I am from Bidyadanga. I like going to Church because it is fun singing the songs. I also enjoy going on picnics.

My name is Bianca Boona and I like Gabby’s song on Saturday night. It is one of the best songs. I also enjoyed the NAIDOC Open Day. We did a dance and Halijah, Sandra, Erin and myself were at the back. When the dance was over Sandra and I thought that Halijah would turn off the video but she went out the door. Then we started laughing at Halijah.

On Saturday we went to the Disco, and I was dancing. I got a prize and Giles and Kieren won sunglasses for dancing

My name is Leonie and my mother is Shirley Boddington. I like my teachers Val and Aunty Amanda. I was baptized last Sunday and Uncle Maurice is my Godfather.

My name is Courtney and my mother is Agnes Boddington. My sister Bobbie is also here at Wandalgu. We had fun when we went to Northampton for our Carnival. It was raining and Cassandra fell over but she did not cry.

On NAIDOC Open Day our performance was dancing. We also had Sandra’s Birthday and she got a birthday present from Aunty Leonie

The community knows that we the High School Girls have put in the effort to form a girls’ band here at Wandalgu. We have been going to song writing every Thursday night and we have just finished our first song it is called "Black Fellas". The members of the band are: Terri Simpson, Zoe McDonald, Phynea Simpson and Rebecca Drage. Look out, Wandalgu Rock the Girls are coming in!

We are so happy to have Father Gerhard return to us after a long illness. It’s great to see him around the hostel. It brings back lots of good memories. Welcome back, Buddia.  Love Willi