Reflections and hope

We set out to tell a range of stories in Aurora, a mix of human-interest pieces along with showcasing the work that’s happening within our diocese. With each issue published quarterly, it gives way for the topical articles to change and for the news cycle to go through a few iterations.

While I understand this isn’t new information or particularly interesting to write about in an editor’s note, it feels like the news cycle has been chaos over the past couple of months.

There have been relentless stories that perpetuate random acts of violence, horrific acts of domestic abuse and escalating global conflicts. It all feels a bit heavy.

When a woman from my hometown lost her life to domestic violence in April, it struck a personal chord. I too, joined many other women in Australia, with feeling the weight of,

“when will enough be enough?”

Working in media requires staying up to date with the news, and I admit to consuming it excessively. While I understand this isn’t everyone's preferred way to engage with the news, it felt disingenuous to compile a magazine without acknowledging the gravity of the current landscape.

So, I reached out to Kelly Pavan, Rosewood Executive Manager and Psychologist, to provide insight on whether we need to turn off the news for the sake of our mental health. I hope her article offers practical and thoughtful advice for our readers.

In this issue, you will also find a sense of hope in the air. Stories like Teresa Brierley’s are a testament to the growth of our Diocese in particular.

We also highlight some of our Catholic Schools alumni who are embarking on their journey to the Paris Olympics next month. We are excited to watch as the culmination of their hard work, determination and talent comes to fruition.

Through the following pages, you will see more stories of light, triumph and hopefully some thought-provoking content too. From our NAIDOC week story highlighting how we can learn from our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sisters and brothers, through to the story on Natalia Hogan overcoming homelessness to now helping others, I think we can all take a reminder to check in with one another and move forward with kindness.

As Bishop Michael says, “we don’t need to be convinced that we possess dignity – we just know that we have it.”

Madie Leeming Editor

Editor: Madie Leeming

Design: Emma Barnett, David Stedman

Regular Contributors: Liz Baker, Tim Bowd, Brooke Cross, Alex Foster and Elizabeth Symington