Daily Notes and News
The Month of May 2001
Tuesday, 1st
The end of the day and it has been interesting. Sr Lorraine had a birthday today and I set out to send her a fax wishing her all the best. She wasn't home so I suspected she was coming into town for Mass so I organised a cake and we had a birthday morning tea - just after a normal breakfast time so that was good.
I then worked on the finances for the past twelve months so that I was able to report on our current status and address some of the issues for the Parish Pastoral Council meeting (which has just finished) as well as following up some of the issues from past meetings which needed some work done on them.
Mick and I then headed down to Morning Tea at School - there was a farewell to one of the teachers who is returning to Victoria for family reasons, a mini farewell for one of the teachers who with her husband is heading off overseas on Long Service Leave and an early birthday morning tea for me for my birthday on Thursday.
There were several phone calls during the day and like every phone call they took time and that meant following through on what was happening. This afternoon I've also managed to complete a user form for our copyright licence (weeks overdue) and I'll be able to send that off tomorrow.
Mick has headed out to see some friends from his Alphington, Victoria, school and youth days so I'm heading for bed and will see him in the morning.
Wednesday, 2nd
The last day of the first half of my life.
After Mass this morning I had a meeting with the Deputy Director of the Catholic Education Office to look at an issue that has arisen here at the school, to look at ways we might be able to reach a resolution and, perhaps, provide a better insight into how future issues might be addressed. My next step will be to contact Sean Gill and convey to him the results of the meeting and then chat to the President of the School Board about any other response that needs to be made.
Mick and I then headed for town. He wandered around some of the shops and I had a meeting at the Church Office to look at how we might be able to help two Parishes in the North of the State who are working towards the formation of a new parish. There are a number of issues that have arisen and which will need to be looked at - it may mean a visit to one of these places to share some of our experiences with them and perhaps help them find a way forward.
I then headed to the Navy Support Office to check on the things that I need to know in preparation for the Decommissioning Ceremony for HMAS Jervis Bay - the Tasmanian built catamaran which has been leased by the RAN over the past two years to work in the Timor Strait between Darwin and Dili in East Timor. The ceremony is to be held next Friday (11th May) and so I needed to know what was happening - I am to be the only Chaplain for the decommissioning - I was one of three at the Commissioning Ceremony two years ago so this will be a unique event for me and unusual for a Naval Chaplain.
Mick and I then had a bite to eat before heading back here for a teleconference for the TCC Executive Working Group which will last about an hour. We then set up the main Meeting room for the gathering of people for week 2 of the "Life After Drowning" series - last week there were 29 people, this week there were a few apologies but we still had 27 here. It was another good meeting and lot's of sharing.
Now for bed. Mick is out visiting his niece at Rokeby and will be back late so I'll finish this part of my life with a reasonably early night and get ready for a good start to the future.
Thursday, 3rd
I woke early this morning and was working away on the Daily Notes and News when the phone rang and it was one of my friends (at 6.05am) to wish me Happy Birthday - she is good at being the first to do things and didn't want to be different today.
I got a phone call from one of the Units at Mill Brook Rise and went to visit a resident who has been calling into the Parish House regularly with information about his designs and machines - he has a model which he wanted me to see and became a little anxious when I said that I was busy so I went to see him for a few minutes. I don't think that this will be the end of the story.
After Mass at 9am there was a good gathering of people who called into the House to wish me Happy Birthday - unfortunately I was not able to spend too much time with them because I also had to prepare for the Christian Leaders meeting that took up the rest of the morning and started into the afternoon.
After lunch Mick and I changed the main Parish Room from meeting mode to eating mode and fixed the tables for the meal with my family this evening. It was a little bit mixed up with everyone there for only a few minutes as Karen had to go to a meeting so she and Steve and their children arrived early and left not long after the others arrived but we were all together for a short time. I got phone calls from Steve and Maree and Brendan, Lisa and Grace so that was good but I'm really tired now and need to go to bed otherwise I am going to be useless tomorrow.
It has been a good day and a great night and I'm happy to be starting the second half of my life.
Friday, 4th
Today has been a long day - I started with two Masses this morning - one here at St Peter's and the other at Corumbene for the elderly residents there. We have had to move the place where we celebrate Mass because of some changes to the bed arrangements but I think it will work out all right. Then I headed off to the District Hospital to see Eileen Taylor and to take her Holy Communion.
I then returned home to work on the weekly newsletter and managed to get that done - almost page by page as the photocopier still plays hard ball. I had a phone call from the technician with a proposal for a 'new' copier which will be bigger and quicker so that should come on Tuesday.
This afternoon I headed for town and visited a man at the Royal Hobart Hospital - Thomas Neild who is dying of cancer - and anointed him. He has asked for his funeral to be celebrated at New Norfolk - sadly, I don't think that it will be too long away.
Mick and I then headed for Glenorchy where I collected a some flowers to give to my friends who have spent so much time preparing for my party tonight to say thank you for their efforts and for all the energy they have expended. There was a great atmosphere and everyone, especially me, had a great time. It isn't that late but it is not early and I will need to go to bed because tomorrow is also going to be a long day.
Saturday, 5th
I woke really tired this morning - but managed to get going and most things started all right. I headed off to the Cenotaph for the Commemoration of the Battle of the Coral Sea Service and it started in bright sunny weather but very quickly a chilling breeze sprang up and it because just a little bit interesting.
I was heading up to Morning Tea at the Navy Club when I checked the message bank on my mobile and there was an urgent message from Mick saying that his plane was leaving earlier than he had told me and that if I could get to the airport as soon as possible it would be helpful as I had his bags in the boot of my car. So I headed off and actually beat them to the airport but found that the plane was delayed - in fact it was on the ground in Melbourne with a mechanical fault and they had no idea when it as due to arrive or depart from Hobart.
We sat in the lounge for a while before another flight arrived and went out to check what was happening and found that his flight had been cancelled and he had been rebooked on a flight leaving at 3pm so we headed off to Lindisfarne for lunch with the priests. It was a pleasant lunch and so we managed to meet up with some of the fellows before heading back to the airport to find that there was still a bit of a delay but not too long so I said my farewells and headed home.
I called into my friends at Glenorchy and got some of the glasses that we had used last night and then headed home - three hours later than I thought that I would be and now starting to push a little close to the wind to get the things I needed done out of the way. I hadn't been home long when Sandy arrived with the first lot of food for tonight and she helped me with a few things that needed clearing away and setting up. Not long after Sr Lorraine arrived to travel with me to Kempton so we headed off and thought that we might be the only ones there until just a few minutes before Mass was due to begin.
Part way through the homily some (presumably) young people came to the back door of the church and made some loud 'ghost' sounds which gave everyone a bit of a shock. The rest of the Mass was uneventful and so was the trip home.
We arrived just as people started to arrive and it was a good night with another 35-40 people gathering - I suspect that I am more than a little naughty in having so many parties - I did the same last year for my Silver Jubilee celebrations - but it will be some time before I do anything like this again.
Now for bed - I am really exhausted.
Sunday, 6th
Today has been a long day - I woke 'latish' and have been running a little behind ever since.
Mass here was a little light on this morning but the Mass at Ouse was better attended than usual and there was a good crowd for the Baptism immediately after Mass.
From there I headed home for the first of the two baptisms this afternoon which also went well. Between the two, however, I got a phone call from a family asking if I could go and visit as their mother had just past away but I had to say that it was impossible in the time between then and the next Baptism and the evening Mass so they made other arrangements for a priest to call but I have now arranged to see the family tomorrow afternoon to make arrangements for the funeral on Wednesday.
Just after the second Baptism another Funeral director rang asking if I might be able to do a funeral on Wednesday at exactly the same time as the first funeral but we have managed to change it to a slightly later time so that it will all work out. The second funeral is for the late Thomas Neild whom I saw on Friday afternoon at the Royal.
The evening Mass is over, I'm going upstairs to watch Ballykissangel and then I'm heading for bed and, I hope, a good night's sleep.
Monday, 7th
Instead of being a reasonably quiet day today has been a little bit busy, although towards the end I have gone a bit slow.
After completing the work for the weekend of recording Baptisms and the Planned Giving Data I have organised two baptisms and visited some people around the town to follow up things discussed at the Church door over the weekend - it is amazing what is mentioned in just a few moments as people leave the Church.
The two funerals are totally different - one from the Crematorium only and the other at the Church only. It will be interesting to see how they both work out as far as people attending and what level of faith is present within the two families. I have taken their photo's to Photolith to have bromides made so a start has been made - I have also begun work on their booklets but will need to get some further information regarding readings from them tomorrow before they can be completed. Hopefully, there will be a 'new' photocopier tomorrow to print them otherwise it is going to be a long day.
Now for a time of catching up with some TV programs I've recorded and an early night to finish off the last few days.
Tuesday, 8th
I worked away at the two funeral booklets for tomorrow - for the late Thelma Mitchell and the late Thomas Neild but I wasn't able to print them off until the 'new' photocopier was delivered this afternoon. It was wonderful to have a machine again that could be programmed to print and not have to worry that the paper might be jammed after only a few copies.
This morning I went down to school for morning tea to congratulate Brent and Kay Scanlon (Brent was there - Kay goes home from hospital today) on the arrival of their daughter Ella - born on 3rd May so she is exactly 50 years younger that I.
Les Browning gave me a very large pumpkin on Sunday evening so Ruby and I spent the rest of the morning cutting it up to make pumpkin soup. It took quite some time so, after the copier arrived and I'd been to town to collect the bromides for the booklets, I've spent time making soup and then eating some for tea. Ruby will be making hers tomorrow so we will have a taste test at lunch time to see which is the better taste.
Now I'm heading for bed and a quiet night.
Wednesday, 9th
This morning started later than usual and didn't get any better as I opened the mail and found that the incorrect Insurance Renewal premiums had been sent - I've been promised that the correct renewals are in the mail.
The two funerals went well although I managed to, almost, be late for the first one because of waiting for a phone call about the insurances. Otherwise both ceremonies went well with good gatherings of family and friends at both.
This evening the 3rd of the 'Life after Drowning' sessions went well, albeit a little over time because the lady leading it didn't keep people to the point.
Now, it is time for bed, although I have the feeling that I'm not going to sleep easily as I've got too many things on my mind.
Thursday, 10th
It was an early trip to town today for the rehearsal for the decommissioning of HMAS Jervis Bay. It was an all morning run through so there was no midday Mass. The weather wasn't too bad but it was very cold and most of the troops who are in town for the decommissioning are from either Darwin (averaging about 30C) or Sydney (20C) and it was about 10C with a cold wind off the water. The rehearsals went well but the fruit will be shown tomorrow at the real thing.
I then headed to the Catholic Development Fund to see Chenet about the banking and financial arrangements for the Parish but she was away so I'll call and see Chris tomorrow and hopefully it will all be fixed.
I've done most of the newsletter as well as creating a book for the lectern for the decommissioning so that we don't have to carry up pieces of paper for the event. I've completed most of the newsletter but will have to wait for the football results from tomorrow night.
Now it is time for bed.
Friday, 11th
Today we decommissioned HMAS JERVIS BAY, the third ship to carry the name. It was just two years ago that she was commissioned here in Hobart on a cold wet day to assist the RAN to transport a peace keeping force into East Timor if a situation ever arose. In the two years the ship was in service she completed 107 trips and carried troops, refugees and cargo between Darwin and Dili in a trip that took just 11 hours - almost twice a quick as any other means of sea transport. Today's ceremony, at Macquarie No. 3 Wharf, was a sad occasion for me because I was part of the commissioning ceremony (as were 15 of the decommissioning crew) and it was with some regret that we went back on board for a reception after the ceremony.
I then called into the Catholic Development Fund to finalise the details for the Parish Banking - hopefully it is now all ready to go, although there are one or two forms that still need to be returned.
I also called into Guilford Young College at Glenorchy to drop off the reference that an applicant for the position of Campus Dean had asked me to supply. I had a brief chance to chat to Pam Davis, the principal, before heading home to finish off the next stage of the work sitting on my desk before the TCC Meeting tomorrow.
I've just arrived home from having dinner with my Bellerive friends as a final part of my birthday celebration. I listened to the end of the Bulldogs v Melbourne game and enjoyed being able to announce that Jenny & Henry were this week's winners. I've also just finishing printing off the second page of the newsletter.
I have a long day tomorrow so I'll load this now and then hit the sack.
Saturday, 12th
Today was the Annual Meeting of the Tasmanian Council of Churches in Launceston. It was a better attended meeting than usual so that was good. The guest today was Peter Sabatino, the Executive Officer of the Aboriginal and Islander Commission of the National Council of Churches in Australia. He was particularly challenging and offered me, at least, some further thoughts as I prepared to preach this weekend. At the meeting I was asked to fill a number or roles during the day as I am the immediate past president (still resident in Tasmania) so I needed to be the commissioning officer of the Council when it came time to install the new President.
At the conclusion of the meeting I headed off to Oatlands to celebrate the Vigil Mass - my normal vigil Mass for the 2nd Sunday of the month should have seen me heading for Bothwell but I would not be able to get there on time so I asked (Fr) John to swap for this weekend. It was good to get to see the people at Oatlands - many of whom I hadn't seen for six months.
I called to see Judith Gregg at Campbell Town on the way through to check some info re the finances and hopefully that will now be heading in the right direction.
I've arrived home (after a cuppa with Maria at Oatlands) and now I'm heading for bed - it hasn't been too long a day but I am still tired after the meeting and all the travel.
Sunday, 13th - Mother's Day
Mass in the country today was at Maydena and I have been running all day. Mum rang me early and frightened the daylights out of me as I thought that something must have happened to Dad but all she wanted to say was that it was fifty years ago today (also Mother's Day) that she and dad brought me home from the hospital.
The numbers at all the Masses today were light on so it seems as if a good number of people are away visiting family for the day.
I've also had two baptisms this afternoon and both of the children have been a little off colour and noisy to boot so by the time I had finished I had a decent headache and the evening Mass was just a little difficult to get through.
It is all over now and I'm heading for bed and hopefully, a good night's sleep.
Monday, 14th
Today was a quiet day for extras but a good day for completing work that has been needed to get done for some time.
I sent off my time sheet to the Chaplaincy Office at Garden Island, Sydney for time spent in Reserve activity recently (and for the Conference at the end of last year - 5 months late). I also sent off the information to ITIM to request payment for travel in February so that means that my travel account might benefit by a few dollars when all that comes back.
I've also set up the BEACON as an online edition so that will make things a little easier for me to present out there. I'm still looking at ways to make it easier to read without it being a whole lot of words but that will take a few weeks to organise but it should be able to happen shortly.
I've just finished working with a couple whose marriage is to be celebrated in February next year. I will need to get onto the other couples who are getting married then to arrange for their preparation program to be up and running in the not too distant future.
Time for bed and another early night!!
Tuesday, 15th
Tonight's meeting with the parents of the young people of the Parish who are being prepared to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation went reasonably well. The people who were there were a good proportion of the families in the class but there is still some lack of total commitment - perceived at least.
The rest of the day was messy. This morning the phone rang non stop and each call took some time both to deal with and respond too so the morning was gone before I really knew it. A fellow was due to see me at midday so that stopped me heading off to do anything else so while I waited for him I re did the BEACON for the web with a different format - using headings for people to go to pages from the front page - it still isn't right but it is a start.
I finally rang the fellow and he couldn't make it but asked me to go and see him - which I did - but then it took the rest of the afternoon as he talked about the issues facing him and his estranged family and we looked at what the future might bring. I'm not sure that the time I spent with him will be that helpful as there are several issues that he needs to deal with before he can get his act together.
Most of the rest of the things I had hoped to do today are still left undone but they will still be there tomorrow so will get done soon.
Wednesday, 16th
This morning started with a teleconference at 8am with the Executive Working Group of the TCC. The main item on the agenda is still under embargo until the weekend but we need to take some steps to address issues that have arisen from the Annual Meeting last Saturday as well as some new things that will require some attention.
After the meeting I travelled to Bothwell for a Morning Tea gathering at 10am - it was my first chance to spend time there so I was able to make some contacts and forge links with the Rev Bruce Mitchell, the Anglican Priest who lives elsewhere but is responsible for the Southern Highlands region (including Oatlands). It was a good gathering and it is hoped that sometime early in the School Holidays we might be able to make a day of a meeting in Oatlands to work out ways to build a real unity amongst the three denominations who are working in the area.
We have just finished the fourth session of the "Life after Drowning" Program. It was preceded by a School Board Meeting which covered quite a number of issues - some of which I will need to do some work on before the next meeting.
The 'Life after Drowning' session was again interesting because of the differing traditions from which we enter the discussion but everything held together well at the end which is good. We still need some tolerance but things are working out - hopefully that will continue through the last session next week and then into an Alpha program in the future.
Now bed.
Thursday, 17th
Today was a bit of a disaster. I was late getting things done because of doing a defrag of the computer and somehow my 'html editor' (HotDog Express) has died and I wasn't able to load Daily Notes and News nor my Archived Notes. I have been trying to quickly learn how to use HotDog Professional 6 and have not quite got it right so there is a swift learning curve on at the moment - hopefully it will be right by tomorrow early.
The morning was taken up by the Christian Leaders Association Meeting. Anne asked as usual to photocopy the minutes of the last meeting. Unfortunately there seems some problem with one of the rollers and the fixing of the copy so I called into see Alex later this afternoon and he hopes to get here tomorrow morning to have a look. If he doesn't, then I will head down to school to print off the newsletter early tomorrow afternoon.
The meeting itself was a long meeting and there were still quite a number of issues that needed to be looked at when I left to celebrate Mass at midday but everyone had gone when I returned so hopefully it has all been resolved.
I had intended to send some emails to people as a result of the Leaders meeting to arrange future meetings and events - one for next Thursday, and the other two for August and October but they all have a link into next Thursday's meeting for confirmation and acceptance. After the collapse of HotDog Express they will now need to be done first thing tomorrow - I get kind of side tracked by things that don't work out and forgot to do the emails.
This afternoon I headed for town get a whole range of things from the No-Frills Wholesale Supermarket so that the stock items in the house are back up to date. I then headed for the city to buy a new pair of shoes - they are a little tight around the bridge of my foot but I hope they will expand slightly over the next few days.
Then I called into the Telstra shop to see about getting an 'easy mail' set up kit for email access without an ISP for some friends at Glenorchy as well as looking at how to connect their computer to the phone system - it looks ultimately like they will need a technician to put in a new phone backing pad so that it will all work. I'll see what I can do on Monday.
I've just got home after having a meal with the Wye family at Seven Mile Beach and arranging for the Baptism of their two children, Zoe and Morgan. It was some time since I'd last seen them (18 months or more) so it was goo to catch up with them and make the arrangements for the big day for their children.
Now bed after a somewhat frustrating and long day.
Friday, 18th
Today has been a rotten day! This morning I woke early and tried to work out what was wrong with HotDog Express as I hoped that I might be able to keep on using it without having to learn how to use a new program.
When that didn't work I started to work with HotDog Professional and after quite a number of false starts I have managed to get things done but it meant that I spent more time worrying about my web pages than I did about taking time for prayer and that didn't help. The end of the day has seen me develop a reasonable competence with the program which I hope that I might be able to maintain into the future although I know there will be times when I will muck up and possibly lose things.
I managed to catch up with Eileen at the Hospital after Mass as well as being around for some people who called into the Parish House, including the Fire Services Officer who came to recharge the Fire Extinguishers and allowed me to see the high technical process first hand!! I was waiting for Alex to arrive to fix the photocopier and was becoming a little edgy when he hadn't arrived by lunch time.
Thankfully he arrived after lunch and thought initially that the problem was a simple one (eventually it actually was). However, it took some time after he had made some minor adjustments to the drum pressure before he found a cog on a plastic wheel was cracked and didn't provide the constant pressure that was required so I felt much better about making the service call - it was a bit touch and go for a short time.
I've been trying to contact the man I saw on Tuesday - he and his son were at Mass this morning and he called in this afternoon just as the ITIM Teleconference was about to start. I tried to call back as soon as the meeting finished and have only just managed to get in touch with a relative so it is unlikely that I will speak to him tonight as as soon as I finish this I'm heading for bed.
The ITIM Meeting went well and there are some interesting things happening with Foundation 2010 but there is still a long way to go. In many ways I feel bad that I haven't managed to have a second '5 Questions Breakfast' but so far it is really only South Australia who have done anything more than Tasmania and they have a highly organised and high profile program that has been running for a number of years.
Now, however, it is time for bed and, perhaps a short time to watch the night football game to see whom the winner for this week might be but that will need to wait until tomorrow for the final result.
Saturday, 19th
Late last night the Defence Centre Hobart rang to tell me that Lee Hall, a young lad from Ellendale who had joined the RAAF at the begining of the year, had been killed in an vehicle accident just outside Wagga Wagga. I rang his parents and they told me that there were plenty of people around at the time so I said that I would head up their in the morning.
I got things ready to take to the Prayer Breakfast and then spent the morning with the family and worked as liaison between them and the Defence Force Community Officer and RAAF Hobart arranging for them to travel to Wagga to formally identify their son's body and begin arrangements for his transfer back to Hobart and some of the things that might need to be done for the funeral.
I left Ellendale as they were leaving to go to the airport and headed to town and to Kingston to have lunch with the priests - I needed some time and some space away from anything else that was happening for a short time. It was a pleasant day - also just a few days short of Chris Hope's 60 the birthday so that was pleasant as well.
From there I headed home and had a few things to do before heading off to Kempton for Mass. About an hour before I left there was a phone call asking if I wanted a passenger to go with me to Kempton and so I said 'yes' because with Sr Lorraine being away today at an MSS Associates Day I needed someone to read and to assist with the distribution of Holy Communion. When we arrived several other parishioners were already there - they had said some time ago that they would go to Kempton and then stay on for a meal at the local Tavern and it had completely slipped my mind that it might be today. So not only did I have someone else to help with the readings, I also had another Special Minister of the Eucharist as well as someone to take up the collection and we more than doubled the congregation which was good for the people of Kempton and for everyone.
The meal at the Huntington Tavern afterwards was a good meal as well and it was a pleasant night all round even if it were a little later than I had intended. I missed taping 'The Bill' because I didn't know I was going to be away tonight so I'll have to wait and see if I can borrow a copy from someone some time.
Now for bed.
Sunday, 20th
The numbers at Mass this morning weren't that great - as we were about to start there was about 70% of the normal number and it only rose by a few late comers. I'm not certain what is happening but I suspect that the only way will be to try and visit everyone and find out what is wrong.
The trip to Hamilton started a little late as there were a couple of visitors who wanted to chat for a time after Mass and slowed me down considerably - I don't mind the chatting, it is just the travel time that concerns me. The numbers at Hamilton were almost at their maximum for there so that was better.
There were no Baptisms this afternoon - the first time in some weeks - so I managed to sit down and doze off without any fear of forgetting anything. I should have used the time to go and see Mum and Dad but I'll do that sometime in the next two days.
We had the enrollment ceremony for the children being prepared to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at the 4.30pm Mass tonight. There were better numbers than usual but it was sad to see that most children only came with the one parent and very few others from their families to support them. At the end of Mass as I was leaving I noticed that the Fire Extinguisher from the Sacristy entrance had been stolen during Mass - it was only checked by the Fire Services on Friday so that is a bit of a pain.
Time to watch 'Ballykissangel' and then bed - an early night never goes astray.
Monday, 21st
Today was a funny day.
After Mass this morning I did some work on the various things that needed completion after the weekend and then I headed to town to get my car serviced. I thought that I might wander around and check out some of the things that I might be able to do in preparation for the making of the Christmas Puddings as well as buy some things to fix the internet connection for my friends in Glenorchy.
It started all right but when I got to town I found that I had left my wallet in the car, back at the service centre, so I wandered around town with only 50 cents in my pocket and no cards, no nothing. After I had checked out a few things and really got not very far I wandered back to collect my car and passed a shop that had donuts for 50 cents so I got one and boy was it good.
After I collected my car I stopped off and got the phone connections for the internet and then headed off to see my friends but no-one was home so I called to see some other people before heading home and now I'm heading for bed - having had an easy day with lots of walking and very little of anything else but it sometimes happens that way.
Tuesday, 22nd
The Council of Priests Meeting took up mot of today and meant that I had to leave home this morning as soon as Mass was completed. I hate having to do that because there are always things that need to be done or talked about and they don't always happen.
One thing that was forgotten was the raffle tickets for the Winter Wood Raffle which start selling on Thursday - John had hoped to be able to cut them today but I have put his work back a day. I've printed them this evening but that didn't really help.
The Council Meeting went well but it might be my last meeting as there are to be elections either before or after the Pastoral Council in July so I could be out of a job again - depends on how well people think things are going. Some issues regarding the Call to Change Process were aired and there still needs to be work done there and a few positive recommendations were made to the Archbishop to see what might happen.
At the end of the meeting I called to see some friends who invited me to stay for tea - which I did - and sat in the chair at the end of the meal and dozed off and they allowed me to doze for a time but it meant that some of the other things I needed to do tonight have not been done so tomorrow and the next day are going to be a little under pressure.
Wednesday, 23rd
Today has been a difficult day - after MAss this morning I headed off to Ellendale to meet with the Hall family to look at the funeral arrangements for the late Lee Hall, their 17 year old son who was killed last Friday night in Wagga Wagga. There will be a reasonable number of RAAF personnel who will be travelling down for his funeral as he had become a well liked young man in his short time in the RAAF. Unfortunately the first arrangements for the RAAF travel down was not possible so they are coming in by a variety of ways so the numbers might not be as great as they had hoped.
The arrangements went well and were helped greatly by the efforts of Debbie in the office at St Brigid's who managed to print a good copy of the scan I had done of Lee for the booklet and has provided an almost A4 sized print that will be placed on his coffin for the funeral. I've also managed to collect the CD's needed for the music so things will work out well.
The morning itself started awkwardly because there was a heavy frost which froze the pipes to my shower so I had to dash down stairs to the back room toilet and shower so that I could wake up to start the morning. The pipes unfroze soon after but not early enough for me. The temperature didn't really get much better all day so it will be interesting to see how everyone copes at Ellendale tomorrow.
After lunch I worked on printing the booklet and the Big Book for me and I finally managed to get down to work on the material for the Parish Council Meeting tomorrow night although there are still some things that need to be completed but which, because of my timetable tomorrow and the fact that some information has not yet been forthcoming, will not happen so I will give a potted version of what the papers should look like.
This evening we had the final meeting of the 'Life after Drowning' program - possibly the best of the sessions as there was less that was actually controversial as part of the discussion point. In spite of everything else the whole program has been worthwhile and there is a real sense that future discussion might be explored so that the spirit of unity be further explored.
Now, however, it is time for bed - boy it is looking good.
Wednesday, 23rd
Today has been a difficult day - after Mass this morning I headed off to Ellendale to meet with the Hall family to look at the funeral arrangements for the late Lee Hall, their 17 year old son who was killed last Friday night in Wagga Wagga. There will be a reasonable number of RAAF personnel who will be travelling down for his funeral as he had become a well liked young man in his short time in the RAAF. Unfortunately the first arrangements for the RAAF travel down was not possible so they are coming in by a variety of ways so the numbers might not be as great as they had hoped.
The arrangements went well and were helped greatly by the efforts of Debbie in the office at St Brigid's who managed to print a good copy of the scan I had done of Lee for the booklet and has provided an almost A4 sized print that will be placed on his coffin for the funeral. I've also managed to collect the CD's needed for the music so things will work out well.
The morning itself started awkwardly because there was a heavy frost which froze the pipes to my shower so I had to dash down stairs to the back room toilet and shower so that I could wake up to start the morning. The pipes unfroze soon after but not early enough for me. The temperature didn't really get much better all day so it will be interesting to see how everyone copes at Ellendale tomorrow.
After lunch I worked on printing the booklet and the Big Book for me and I finally managed to get down to work on the material for the Parish Council Meeting tomorrow night although there are still some things that need to be completed but which, because of my timetable tomorrow and the fact that some information has not yet been forthcoming, will not happen so I will give a potted version of what the papers should look like.
This evening we had the final meeting of the 'Life after Drowning' program - possibly the best of the sessions as there was less that was actually controversial as part of the discussion point. In spite of everything else the whole program has been worthwhile and there is a real sense that future discussion might be explored so that the spirit of unity be further explored.
Now, however, it is time for bed - boy it is looking good.
Thursday, 24th
Today has been a hectic day.
I headed down to school to celebrate the Mass for the Our Lady Help of Christians and renew the consecration of our School and families to her patronage. At the same time we were also preparing for the start of selling tickets of our Winter Wood Raffle and the Biggest Morning Tea event for Cancer Research. It did tend to be just a little bit busy but everything went off well, although there were not great numbers at the morning tea we did manage to raise a reasonable sum of money for Cancer Research.
I then headed off to Ellendale for the funeral of the late Lee Hall. There were a goodly number of his RAAF Group who were present and it was good for them to meet the people of Lee's community and know something of the kind of people who loved him at home. At one stage at the wake I sat with the RAAF Bugler who is flown all over simply for the playing of the Last Post and Reveille at the service and he remarked that he seemed to be the only person there who did not know Lee and I knew what he meant as frequently at funerals I am also the only one who does not the deceased. As with every country function there was more than adequate food for the crowd and no body went without food or drink.
After the wake a small group headed down to Mornington for the Committal Service at Millington's Chapel. In all it worked well because many of the RAAF personnel were leaving Hobart tonight and there would not have been a chance to spend time with people if the Cremation had followed immediately after the service. It was also good to meet one of Lee's College teachers at the Crematorium and to hear again the same kind of response from people of all different areas of his life.
From Mornington I headed for Oatlands and the Mass and the first meeting of the Parish Pastoral Council. It was an good meeting - I lost the plot for a few minutes and tried to comment about a big issue when the question referred to a simple question. We (I) got back on track quickly and everything went off well after that although there is still a long way to go. Again there was a good feed for supper and I've come home replete after sampling plenty of home made cooking and sandwiches all day.
Now I'm heading for bed because I desperately need some sleep.
Friday, 25th
After Mass this morning I headed off to the Hospital to visit Eileen and take her Holy Communion. She is well but struggles with the limitations imposed on her by her stroke. There is a nice spirit amongst the staff and residents of the aged care section of the hospital so it is always good to visit.
I then went down to school to sign the letter informing the parents of the appointment of Sean Gill as Principal of Holy Rosary School, Claremont. There were one or two words we added to the draft and that goes home with the children today, the last day of Term I. I returned at lunch time and helped the parents who were there providing the lunch for the children and chatted with the staff in the staff room afterwards.
During the morning and early afternoon I worked on the newsletter and got it finished except for the name of the winner of the football competition which I have just added and, even while I type, am printing off the inside pages of the newsletter so that means that will all be finished tonight. I've also managed to complete some other work on the letters for the parishioners to take this weekend inviting them to prayer for the candidates for Confirmation over these next weeks of their preparation program.
I've just returned home from being out with the staff at an end of term function. It was a good night and good company and a pleasant end to the term. Unfortunately it was not possible for everyone to be there but there was still a good turn up.
Now it is time for bed and I really think that I will need it.
Saturday, 26th
Just after I had done some work on today's Daily Notes and News the phone rang and +Adrian asked if I could use his help at Mass tomorrow. Plans for a meeting in Burnie had changed and he was free to assist someone with their Sunday Mass schedule - so I said yes.
I then made a decision about what else I would do today. First some background.
Several weeks ago I received an email asking what time Masses were on a Saturday evening around Hobart as a Texas woman and a friend were travelling around and didn't want to miss Mass. She also gave me the time of her flight into Hobart and her accommodation details to help locate a suitable Church for her. So, after the Archbishop had rung I decided to go to the airport and surprise her.
Well I did and her friend said that she had never seen her speechless before. We had a coffee at Lenna, their accommodation, before wandering down and visiting Salamanca Market. We met a couple of people as we wandered and I left them to go and pay a courtesy call to HMAS Adelaide, one of the FFG's in the RAN (a sister ship to HMAS Sydney)
I then headed off to Bridgewater for lunch with the Clergy before heading home to make arrangements for the funeral of the late Noeleen Salter. After they had left I had a short time to finish preparations for Mass at Bothwell tonight and sat for a quiet time of prayer and meditation.
There were not large numbers at Mass so we discussed what might happen about a change in Mass times to Sunday afternoon/evening, depending on whether it is winter or summer and the suggestion received unanimous affirmation. We will now need to come back to New Norfolk to talk to people here to make the changes from August.
After Mass I came back and went to the RSL for a Get together to say thanks to all those who assisted the Bester Family after Kim's murder late last year. The people who had been the organisers of the fundraising and family gathered and it was a good night. Now it is time for bed.
Sunday, 27th
This morning was different - +Adrian had rung yesterday and offered to celebrate the 9am Mass so I had some free time which I was able to put to good use because John and Jannette Readman arrived to bring their daughter Stacey Anne to MAss for the first time but she was upset and they didn't feel comfortable with her disturbing everyone so they came over to the Parish House and we arranged (or at least started to arrange) a date for her baptism. Funnily enough the date they suggested was a date that +Adrian will also be here as I cover for (Fr) John at Campbell Town and Oatlands while he is away on holidays.
Mass at Ellendale was a little light on this morning with a few people being sick but we were boosted by the Hall family and some of their friends who have stayed on after Lee's funeral earlier in the week. It was obvious that they were heading out after Mass so I didn't have a chance to visit them but I'll do that sometime in the next week or so.
There were no Baptisms this afternoon so I sat down and actually dozed off intentionally before coming back downstairs to start work on the BEACON for next weekend. So far I have managed to do the Mass time table and a little more but not a great deal after that because the phone rang and I needed to talk for some time - sadly without changing too much of the need for the call in the first place.
After Mass this evening I was supposed to have a meal with some friends but another of the calls during the afternoon was a call to say that one of the children had the flu so they wondered if I might postpone - easily done so it means that, now, I can have a really early night.
Monday, 28th
Today has been a strange day. It started well with all the things I needed to do around the house including the banking of the monies from the Biggest Morning Tea last Thursday getting completed as well as some work on the BEACON being started.
I then headed for town to drop off the photo of the late Noeleen Salter to have a bromide made and collected some paper to print the booklet as we are out of paper and needed more before the weekend (to print the weekly newsletter as well as the BEACON). I also needed to get some new ink cartridges as the Canon had run out this morning as well as C6 envelopes but they are difficult to find as it seems that not many places stock them any more.
I called into see the people at Graham's and was only there a few minutes when Travis came into the Office and they were washing the cars out the back and said that if I had a few minutes that he would take mine and wash it. When I got it back it was better than washed - it had also been cleaned inside as well - it was almost back to the new car feel.
While that was happening I walked up to the Catholic Education Office for a meeting with Jeff Hall who is working with a couple of the colleges looking at a promotion program for families in rural areas and/or ways to assist families in allowing their children to get to one of the Hobart Catholic Colleges for their secondary education. some time ago they set up a hostel on the Eastern Shore which has space for young people - so they are working towards encouraging people for 2003 (2002 enrollments are closed) but all that needs to be in place prior to the end of this year so we talked about some of the possibilities. One we have provided is to take some information to the Campbell Town Show this weekend.
When I was walking back to collect the car I got a call from Photolith to ask if I knew that there had been a price increase from $12 (I paid $16.50) last week to a new price of $30 for the bromides - apparently cheaper by the unit but when I only have one at a time not much help. I really have no choice but when I went to collect the bromide there had been a a paper jam in the printer so I had to wait some time before it was ready.
I used the time to wander off to an electrical shop to collect a new toaster - the one we have been using in the kitchen recently decided that only one side of any bread needed burning - which it proceeded to do with some real class leaving the other side slightly tinged.
This evening I have helped some friends set up Telstra EasyMail on their computer and showed them how to send an email - I'll be sending them a couple in the morning so they have the pleasure of receiving them as well. In exchange they fed me some food so I am happy about all that.
When I got home there was a message from Jim Ledger from Campbell Town to say that there was actually space being allocated for us at the Show - it means we don't have to transport the tent - so I have started to print off the brochures for the information stand we will present at the Show. I'm never sure about the colour printer but I only set up 5 copies at a time - I seem to lose less from multiple pickups if I do it that way.
Now it is time for bed.
Tuesday, 29th
Today started slowly with the completion of preparations for the funeral of the late Noeleen Salter taking up the spare time after Mass. I didn't seem to feel too much concern about the time until someone asked what time the funeral was and I said 11 o'clock and then realised that it was morning time and I had better get moving. I made it easily but somewhere in my mind I kept thinking that it was later in the day.
There was a good representation of people from Ellendale and the surrounding areas who gathered to farewell one of their own and it was good to put people together into their various groups and relationships. After the service we went to a reception centre for the wake and that meant I was able to get some things done on the way - like some cheap (discounted) clothing from one of the stores which is having a sale this week.
After the wake I called into the Parish House at Glenorchy and learnt that there were a few people whom I knew were unwell at the moment - mostly from some form of cancer. I have added their names to the prayer list on the back of the newsletter.
I then called to see Mum and Dad whom I hadn't seen for some weeks - no real excuse just the time I travelled past Claremont and my destinations meant I either didn't make time or I felt it was the wrong time - pretty ordinary when you think about it.
This afternoon and evening I have been working on the BEACON and have managed to get most of it completed although I am still waiting for some info from Campbell Town. I've also done a far bit on this weekends newsletter for the Churches here in the South of the Parish but there are still some things that need to be followed up.
I've just completed working with Alison and Hayden as they prepare for their marriage in September - we still have the paperwork and the booklet to complete so they will return when they have everything fixed up and ready to be printed off.
Now it is time for bed and an early night.
Wednesday, 30th
Today has been a long day - I woke at about 2.30am and so I did some work on the BEACON - but went back to bed at 5.30am and dozed for an hour before showing and getting into the real work of the day.
After Mass I finished the BEACON except for one item which I left blank intending to insert the details later when I had spoken to one of the Christian Leaders - I left a message asking her to phone me but the call didn't come and because I tried to do too many other things during the day I printed 200 copies off and there is a gap where there should be a time for an event to start. People will just have to work it out!!
The Tas Fire Service arrived just after I had been to the supermarket with a replacement Fire Extinguisher for the Church after the one in the foyer had been stolen last weekend. After Charlie had left I headed to town to take some ink cartridges to get refilled and found that one was cactus, the other could be filled and one was damaged but since it was still only partly empty the technician suggested I should take it back to the place of purchase and ask to have HP check it out - I did, they will, and I walked out with a new cartridge so that was good.
This evening the copier has been running hot with the BEACON and the June Calendar - I will put them together in the morning. I've also set up the pages for the web version but now I'm heading for bed and an early night and worry about loading them all in the morning.
Thursday, 31st
Today has been a really good day.
It started early - I woke just after 4am so I got up and stapled the BEACON and Calendars together as well as finishing off the Internet version and uploading all the appropriate files to the web site.
After breakfast, (Sr) Lorraine arrived and we headed for Claremont to collect the keys for our Reflection Day at Penna. The day went remarkably well - even if we didn't manage to have all the Pastoral Team there. (Fr) John had rung this morning to say that he has had a problem with one of his teeth for a few days and had a dental appointment at 11.30am in Launceston so would not be able to come to Penna. As I said, it was disappointing that he wasn't there because I'm sure he would have benefited by the time together.
At the end of the day (Sr) Lorraine and I headed back to town to drop off the keys and collect some things from the Catholic Book Centre for the Campbell Town Show and for the Bronte Park Centenary of Federation Ecumenical Service - so we arrived home with a boot load of things.
I haven't needed any tea as we had a great meal at Penna so I have had a drink and now I'm heading for bed - I'm really tired and need a good night's sleep.
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