Daily Notes and News
The Month of June 2000
Thursday, 1st
Today is the Feast of St Justin, the Patron Saint of Wheelers Hill, so there was a big Mass this morning involving the local Parish School and the Parish. Sadly as soon as it was finished we had to head for the airport - Mick is really good when it come to all that. I am 35 minutes from the airport and travelling there is no great effort - in Melbourne it seems that you are battling the traffic the whole way but I arrived in plenty of time.As usual, however, the flight was delayed so it took longer than usual to get home and so I arrived in Hobart a hour later than intended. I rang Anna from the airport lounge and she was able to leave later so she didn't have long to wait. I was also able to give her present to her immediately and she really appreciated it which was good.
After she dropped me off home I headed back to Old Beach to see the family of the late 'Dan' Boon. Robert Boon had been in the Navy and like so many people with memorable surnames he had the nickname 'Daniel' which had stuck with him through the years. We worked out the liturgy and as soon as I got home I had time to complete the material and get the leaflet printed although the cover is not as clear as I had hoped so I will print some copies for the family in the morning (rather than photocopy) to get a better copy for them.
I've just arrived home from the Call to Change Cluster Committee Meeting and wondering how to struggle with the future directions that need to be stated in a final proposal form in the next few weeks. The meeting itself was reasonable but there are some people who haven't helped the process because they haven't played as vital a role in the preparation of the material as they might have so a lot of the discussion was about issues that should never have arisen.
Now it is time for bed.
Friday, 2nd
I took some time printing off the covers for the leaflet for the funeral of the late Robert Boon this morning and that means that everything else goes slowly for the time it takes. I'm still having trouble with the HP Colour printer - every now and then it just refuses to print but only when I am using Publisher. After the funeral I called to see Tom Young and he suggested a couple of things for the laptop which I tried (unsuccessfully) so he has emailed me some files which I will download tomorrow morning.
The family wake at Old Beach after the funeral was well attended with quite a number of people from various Parishes I had worked at so it was good to catch up with them and to share something of their stories from the years between our last meetings.
I've managed to complete quite a deal of the work on the newsletter for the weekend but will have to wait for the football results tomorrow afternoon before I go to print on the final details. I've also faxed out the details of costs for the next 10 weeks of our Tattslotto ticket to the guys involved so hopefully I'll get some money tomorrow to pay the $345 bill for the time I am away.
I've just arrived home from a meal with the Gang to celebrate the birthday's of Gabrielle and Sybil which take place next week. I'm not certain exactly why we had to get in early but we did - it was a pleasant meal and it isn't too late.
I'm about to set the system to defrag and then I'm heading for bed.
Saturday, 3rd
Trying to defrag the system doesn't always work as well as I'd like to it wasn't completed by the time I got up this morning so it meant a late start to the things I needed to do.
I managed to get all my pages up early except for the Internet copy of the Newsletter which had to wait until the football results were in late this afternoon. I also managed to complete some work on the Newsletters that will be used during the time that I am away with the Navy.
I've also completed the work on the booklet for the Liturgy of the Word with Communion Services for the time I am away - there are two versions that will be needed: one for the leaders and the one for the Congregation.
I headed for lunch today at Moonah and managed to catch up with Mum and Dad on the way to spend some time with them. We chatted about my trip and what might be some of their needs while I am away. I'll need to contact the rest of the guys to chat with them regarding our conversation and ensure that all the things we chatted about are OK with them.
I then called into the Hospital to see Mary Mudge, the twin of Ruby (our housekeeper) - she is not too well at the moment so I gave her a blessing (she had been anointed yesterday by Fr Gerald Quinn the hospital chaplain).
This evening I worked on the laptop after I finished off the newsletter after adding the winner of the football competition. I have been able to load Windows 98 and some other programs so I will be able to do some extra work while I am away - everything seems to be working well and I am hopeful that most things will be possible while I'm away - including some updates of the Daily Notes and News, albeit irregular.
Now for bed.
Sunday, 4th
Mass today in the country was at Ouse but because of the baptisms and work I needed to do for the Meeting tonight I didn't stay for lunch but headed back almost immediately.
too much better.There were three Baptisms - one to be celebrated within the 4.30pm Mass. whicha wasn't too bad. After Mass I spent some time with the two people who will be leading the Liturgy of the Word with Communion during my absence on Sunday afternoons for a run through of all the things that they need to do - most of it is common sense but it was good to simply work through things with them.
We have just completed the Parish Meeting looking at the proposal on Parish Boundaries that will be sent to the Archbishop within the next few days - there is some refinement to be completed so I will do some work on that tomorrow and get it off to him.
Now for bed.
Monday, 5th
After a poor nights sleep today has been a long day.
I've managed to get the laptop up and running with all the programs I need so that is good. I still have some files to transfer but everything else is done.
SCHA Rayner didn't get back to me so I will try again tomorrow to get everything finished - it means that I still don't have the required uniform for when I am away.
I did some work on the Parish Financial Statements for the past year to provide a report for the past year which I will present to the PPC tomorrow evening. I will also provide reports for April and May at the same meeting.
I managed to change Douglas and Louise's appointment to an earlier time so that I could make a few phone calls early in the night - I managed to make one which took some time so I hope that I can get some done during the day tomorrow but I'll have to wait and see.
The invitations for the Silver Jubilee Celebrations have now been printed but I still need to print the envelopes so that will take some time in the next few days but it will get done.
Now for bed.
Tuesday, 6th
The morning started with a meeting of the Diocesan GST Task Force which covered the last of the details that need to looked at before the 1st July - at least as far as we are able to assertain at the moment. Peter O'Loughlin wasn't there so I wasn't able to sign off on the Sick and Retired Priests Fund material - I will need to see him later in the week.
After the meeting I went to Naval Headquarters at Defence Centre to shange my flight details back from Darwin as well as ensure that I had everytjing else I needed - including a clothing chit for exchanges which I will need to do in Cairns as the things I need aren't held at Dowsing Point.
I called into the Mercury about a photo of Ida West for the FOUNDATION 2010 book being produced - then contacted Ruth Prescott to tell her the details for collecting the photo and requirements for copyright approval.
A visit to Phil Scanlon at the Catholic Education Office was a little bit fruitless because he is on leave this week so he will need to contact Peter O'Loughlin to arrange to sign any cheques so that benefits that need to be sent to aged priests on lighter duties before the end of the month and to ensure that all accounts have been paid.
I've managed to get a funeral for Friday - I've spoken to the son who lives in Sydney and will try to ring the sister in Melbourne tomorrow morning. I managed to contact SCHA Brian Rayner and got some info re things I need for my posting - still some questions but I will have to wing it.
I worked away at some extra invitations that I had missed before Sr Lorraine arrived for a meeting to check the arrangements for pastoral care during my absence and then we enjoyed a meal together before the start of the PPC Meeting. It was a good meeting with four new members and lots of things discussed. The Jubilee and the Call to Change took up a lot of time and there is some chance that we will have a good finance outlook for the future with Damian Vout on board.
I'm now heading for bed.
Wednesday, 7th
After Mass this morning I started on the Insurance form for the repairs on my car which will now need to be done while I am away. I also headed for the supermarket and Tattslotto agency to complete some things that needed to be done before the weekend.
Ross McAuley called in to see me regarding the Grapevine Program and some other aspects of computer programs - he has some knowledge but like many people is struggling to understand newer programs and feels comfortable using something he is more familiar with. He stayed for lunch before heading back to Devonport.
After Lunch Ruby and I headed for town to see her twin sister who is ill in hospital. She is very low at the moment and it is uncertain how long she can survive as she has very little reserves. On the way home we called to see Mum and Dad and caught up with Jean and Jack, mum's sister and brother-in-law.
I did some work on the newsletter as well as completing the material for the Leaders Book for the Liturgy of the Word with Communion before heading out to Lachlan for a meal with a family who have recently arrived in the Parish. It was a very pleasant night and it was good to have the time with them.
Now, however, it is time for bed.
Thursday, 8th
Today was a real doozy. I had a meeting at 10am at the local Police Station looking at some of the issues raised by the community regarding the Friday Night Street Ministry. There was some little concern that the issues might be lost in the heat of the discussion. In the end a very simple comment about previous involvement by the Salvation Army Officer with a mobile street ministry in Melbourne opened up a whole new possibility for the ministry.
On the way there I dropped off the extra Business Morning Tea forms to the local businesses We still have some reminders to receive back before chasing people on Tuesday after the long weekend.
After Mass I spent some time with Beryl looking at the material for the time I am away. We looked at the various programs for the newsletters and the other material and everything seems like it will work OK.
I then headed for town to see one of the members of a committee I work with and we signed off on some papers before catching up with the family of the late Lorna Fisher to prepare the liturgy for the funeral which will be celebrated tomorrow at Glenorchy.
This evening I have been working away at printing the leaflet (8 pages rather than the usual 4) was a real pain because my HP printer won't print the front cover and now the photocopier won't copy the photo cover so the whole lot will have to be printed using my Canon printer.
I'm heading for bed and will need to be up early tomorrow to make sure that all the pages are printed before the funeral.
Friday, 9th
The printer worked but the HP still won't do the family colour front page so it means that it is all very ordinary. On top of that, instead of waking early I actually woke at 7.10am - the latest I have woken for so long that I can't remember.
I had a busy time today with the 9.00am Mass here at New Norfolk followed by Mass at Corumbene (postponed from last Friday because I had a funeral then - not realising that I would also have a funeral today). It was really hectic trying to get through everything this morning to be in time for Glenorchy at midday.
After the funeral I visited Tom Young at Computers + More about the printer link for the laptop. After a whole lot of trial and error we proved that the printer works but it took some work with a diagnostic tool to learn that the LPT1: port is not working so I'm not certain what will happen about it into the future but we will see.
I then dropped off the HP printer at their repair centre and hopefully when I get back there will be a revitalised printer able to do it's work properly. A quick visit to Graham's to say farewell (or adieu) slowed me down for a few minutes before arriving at my barber to have a last minute trim for the Navy.
Just after I arrived home tonight Greg Hudson rang asking if I could do a scan of a photo for a funeral leaflet that will be done for Tuesday - he seemed surprised that it was all done in 5 minutes.
Tonight I have been working away on the newsletter and have managed to print the hard copy - the internet copy will be done tomorrow morning. I have also finished stapling the booklet for the Congregation for the Liturgy of the Word with Communion that will start full time this weekend.
I've also started tidying up the area upstairs but there is a long way to go - now, however, I think I'll head for bed. There is just over 38 hours before I head off so things are going to get busier.
Saturday, 10th
I was lucky today in that one of my friends knew what kind of mess I would be in trying to get everything finished before I leave tomorrow so she arrived to help me tidy up - I think that there will be some very surprised people when they arrive in the morning with the amount of tidying up that has been completed today. The office is reasonably cleared and the lounge room upstairs has been completely tidied with 7 bags of rubbish thrown out.
I finished the newsletter for the internet and posted it early before heading off to lunch with the clergy at Moonah - I was surrounded by Bishops with +Peter Connors from Ballarat also there for lunch. It was my last meal with the brothers for the next 8 weeks so it was good to be there.
After lunch I called in to see Tom Young at the Computer Shop to return the diagnostic tools that proved my laptop printer port is out of action - I will have to wait until I get on board to see if anyone can help me fix the port so that I can use the printer.
I then called to see Mum and Dad and collected some things from them before going shopping for the last few things that I needed for before I complete the packing for the trip and go to bed.
I have printed everything else that I needed to do before I head to bed which I will do in just a minute.
Sunday 11th, The Adventure begins
HMAS Sydney - Deployment as Chaplain June 11th - August 5th
Go to my Updated pages for the story of the complete trip.
To know more about what is happening today you can go to the Daily Notes and News Page by clickinghere or the Left Arrow Below.
By clicking here, or here (all the pages are gradually being transferred to this new web site) or the Right Arrow below you can go to the Archived Daily Notes and News since September 1998.
Other wise the Centre Arrow will take you to the Parish Home Page.
This page is maintained by 