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PULSE
PULSE Engaging in Ministry with our Uniting Church Schools
THE MODERATOR, REV. SIMON HANSFORD ADDRESSING THE STUDENTS ALICE SALOMON FROM UNITING ADVOCACY TRAINING STUDENTS
WHEN PULSE WAS ENVISIONED SEVERAL YEARS AGO, GROWING THEIR MINISTRY WITHIN OUR UCA SCHOOLS WAS ONE OF THEIR KEY OBJECTIVES.
Much has happened during this time not only with our schools having to cope with the challenges of the pandemic, but our schools have also been incorporated as legally separate entities.
The appointment of Rev. Stuart Bollom as Director of Mission – Schools, has been key to a growing growing partnership and collaboration with our schools. We have seven UCA schools across the Synod of NSW and ACT, five in Sydney (MLC, Newington, Ravenswood, PLC and Knox Grammar School), Kinross Wolaroi in Orange and Margaret Jurd College in Newcastle. On Friday 28 October, Ravenswood Religious Education Department did an amazing job of hosting RE teachers from our schools for professional development and resource sharing. It was a great day, learning about how meditation in class can deepen young people and children’s experience of God and life.
There was reflection on Future Directions, the Synod’s new strategic direction, one strand of which is focussed on people in their first third of life, the role that Religious Education (RE) teachers within our school plays in the mission and ministry of the Synod.
Other sessions included how to understand and support staff and students who are part of the LGBQTI+ THE HIGHLIGHT community. There were times of community building, networking WAS WATCHING THE RELATIONSHIPS and resource sharing. It was a privilege to work with these amazing teachers who have GROW FROM such a passion for young
STRANGERS TO people, seeing them growing in discipleship. Many are of our RE
FRIENDS BY THE teachers are members of our
END OF THE DAY local Uniting Churches. On Monday 31 October, the Moderator hosted our schools Student Leadership Day. A gathering of our young student leaders from across the schools, to support and network with them, teach them more about the Uniting Church and explore leadership more deeply.
One of the sessions on this afternoon was with Alice Salomon from Uniting Advocacy who shared how our faith inspires us as leaders and trained the young leaders in community organising and how who they can connect with in the areas that matter to them, like climate action.
The highlight was watching the relationships grow from strangers to friends by the end of the day. It was also fascinating to watch how quickly students got the hang of consensus decision making, waving their cards around in support. The goal was that by the end of the day, they would have a couple of projects they could work collaborate on. We look forward to see how this progresses when we catch up again next term. Finally on Thursday 3 November, the first gathering of schools ministry leaders, strategic Presbytery leaders and Congregational leaders from areas near our schools gathered. Effective ministry begins with listening to each other and understanding each other’s context rather than bringing assumptions and imposing our own ideas. The group focussed on sharing our ministries, looking for synergies and committing to praying for each other. Some great ideas emerged, with the group determined to continue to meet again early in the New Year. The hope for this conversation is to forge a strong relationship between local congregations and key leadership within the schools, as the group explores ways we can collaborate in worship, witness and service to our communities.
KAREN MITCHELL LAMBERT (PULSE LEAD) WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM REV. STUART BOLLOM DIRECTOR OF MISSION – SCHOOL
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION TEACHERS GATHERING
STUDENTS DEMONSTRATING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONSENSUS MODEL OF DECISION MAKING
PULSE Walking Togeter ON 22 OCTOBER, OVER 100 PEOPLE GATHERED IN WESLEY MISSION’S CONFERENCE CENTRE TO HEAR FROM FIRST NATIONS THEOLOGIANS.
Walking Together, the inaugural First Nations Theology Conference, featured four keynote speakers. At points challenging, this was a look into the theology of stolen land and what it meant for the Uniting Church to acknowledge the dispossession and role of Indigenous Australians.
One of the keynote speakers, Anne Pattel-Gray, spoke on the topic, “Raising our Tribal Voice.”
Dr Pattel-Gray is Professor of Indigenous Studies and inaugural Head of the School of Indigenous Studies at The University of Divinity. “The vision of walking together has been a lifelong goal for [indigenous people] “In the 1980s and 1990s the [Congress] forged a relationship with the Uniting Church...To lead the way in calling for accountability of its churches and the entire nation.” Dr Pattel-Gray said that Rev. Charles Harris’ vision was more relevant today than it was, as this was founded on the desire for First Nations people to be selfgoverning. Western biblical interpretation and cultural assumptions had undermined indigenous women, Dr Pattel-Gray said. This, she said, was why it was important to “de-colonise” readings of scripture. She said that first nations people’s experience must form part of the task of theology, such as the stolen generations, the destruction of indigenous people’s lands, and ongoing removal of children. and high incarceration rates. “The colonial view of God is one that separates the creator spirit from the land. It is not one that Aboriginal people can relate to,” Dr Pattel-Gray said. Dr Pattel-Gray said that the church will need to decolonise biblical readings and theology. The topic of a potential indigenous voice to parliament was a repeated topic for the the conference. Rev. Pattel-Gray said first nations peoples required a voice to parliament, so as to “secure the same rights, wealth, power, and privilege, that is enjoyed by all other peoples.” “Aboriginal people have got to be recognised by the constitution,” she said. “We’re tired of other people talking for us. That’s why we’re going to need to have a voice to parliament.” “Those steps, and educating people, and bringing people with us, are going to bring us to…a treaty.” “I think the wonderful thing that churches could be doing in driving the truth commissions is leading by example…and start setting the record straight.” “If anyone has the resources to pastorally lead [that process] it’s the church.” “In this journey is our redemption as a nation.” Dr Pattel-Gray said that the School of Divinity’s School of Indigenous Studies aimed to raise up the next generation of theologians, leaders, and prophets. PREPARING TO WALK TOGETHER IN ANCIENT LANDS The second keynote speaker was Naomi Wolfe. Ms Wolfe is a Lecturer of Indigenous Studies at NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community, Australian Catholic University. She spoke on the theme, ‘Preparing to walk together in ancient lands.’ Ms Wolfe said there was no relationship yet based on honesty and justice. “When our kids can’t walk the streets… without being attacked by vigilante
gangs…there’s an urgency here,” she said. “When Aboriginal churches and congregations are closed because of efficiency, and megachurches remain, there’s an urgency.” “Can we have healing if we don’t acknowledge the pain and causes?” “Non-indigenous people are suffering also as they won’t acknowledge the ways that the church [has perpetuated colonisation.” She said that there was a “sickness” as a result. IF ANYONE This sickness came despite the HAS THE RESOURCES TO nation having moments of hope for reconciliation, including the year 2000 march for reconciliation and later, the PASTORALLY 2008 Parliamentary apology to the LEAD THAT stolen generations PROCESS IT’S THE After the later, she recalled, never again’ was a popular sentiment. However, children have since been removed from CHURCH. IN their families in record numbers. THIS JOURNEY Ms Wolfe said that some hope remained IS OUR and that indigenous people had
REDEMPTION AS A NATION resilience and senses of humour that carried them through. She added that she did not believe reconciliation was a matter of individual guilt. “I believe in a faith that is renewing, and is redemptive, so all is not lost,” Ms Wolfe said. According to Ms Wolfe, telling and exploring were necessary for indigenous and non-indigenous people to walk together. This included churches finding out on whose land they were built. “It means holding our church communities responsible and asking those hard questions,” she said. “So often the burden is on aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to facilitate these processes.” Ms Wolfe suggested it was now time for non-indigenous Australians to shoulder the burden.
“It’s time for your communities to do the work,” she said. “What might it look like if your agency started the process for decolonisation?” “As a historian, I want the richness of indigenous history to be shared and acknowledged.” “There’s a sense of urgency to all this.” A KAIROS THRESHOLD OF OPPORTUNITY
Rev Dr Garry Deverell is an Anglican priest and lecturer and research fellow in the School of Indigenous Studies at the Melbourne-based University of Divinity. He presented a wide-ranging address, this time on the theme of how the church might redress inequity between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples. Rev. Dr Deverell pointed out that those who participated in the massacre, frontier conflicts, and genocidal government policies, were overwhelmingly Christian. “Many of you continue to deploy an imaginative terra nulius regarding our
people by pretending that we don’t exist.”
“How are the churches, cooperatively, to reckon with the legacy of colonialism?” Rev. Dr Deverell quoted from Philippians 2. According to Rev. Dr Deverell, there was a direct point of comparison between the Philippians passage and the contemporary church, as contemporary non-indigenous Christians benefited from the stealing of others’ land, and that this mirrored the Philippians’ context. “How do migrant Christians in churches that are still dominated by euro centric theologies, those who have empowered themselves at the expense of indigenous people, let go of that power and reclaim it in a more…health making kind of way?” he asked. “If you are Christians, it cannot be a matter of whether you return this power, but how,” he said. Paul, in the context of Corinthians 8, commands Christians in a wealthier church share their resources with a poorer church to redress the imbalance between them.
He indicated that the process might involve treaties on the local level.
“A treaty is a relationship.” Rev. Dr Deverell presented a challenge to churches to hand land back to traditional owners.
“One way churches came to receive land was the crown took it from us and passed it along to them without fee or compensation.” At the denominational level, this included making arrangements to hand properties churches were originally given by the crown back.
At the congregational level, he challenged churches to contribute 10 percent of their annual budget to ministries run by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 36
REV. DR CHRIS BUDDEN PICTURED WITH NAOMI WATTS, REV. MARK KICKETT, DR ANNE PATTEL-GRAY AND REV. DR GARY DEVERELL NATHAN TYSON, THE SYNOD’S DIRECTOR, FIRST PEOPLES STRATEGY AND ENGAGEMENT
AUNTY YVONNE WELDON, METROPOLITAN LOCAL ABORIGINAL LAND COUNCIL - WELCOME TO COUNTRY
DR ANNE PATTEL-GRAY
He said it was a part of the concept of “Setting up camp in the Centre.” “The fruit of these ministries would make for stronger mob,” he said. “The churches should allow us to set up camp in the centre of your corporate life. The place where decisions are made about ministry and mission.” This, he said, would also help the church. “Your churches are in decline because they are seen as being irrelevant and too corrupt,” he said.
“The churches need to get with the program. They need to get with what the spirit is doing in the world. You need us and our theological perspectives.” “Our theology is really different to yours,” he said.
Rev. Dr Deverell said the church was at a “Kairos threshold of opportunity.” Against this, Indigenous peoples exist, resist, and persist, and second, that settler colonialism is a structure that endures indigeneity, as it holds out against it.” “It’s really clear that we build who we are on two world wars, especially the first world war.” THE PLACE THAT THE FIRST “Out of that we have built this NATIONS PEOPLE HAVE IN OUR larrikin image that defines what it is to be CHURCH IS PARAMOUNT Australian” Rev. Charles Harris, he recalled, returned from a Christian Conference of Asia gathering in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand in early 1982 with the question “Why couldn’t Aboriginal Christians, like Māori Christians, take control of their own destiny?” HOPE AND EXPECTATION The event had the subtitle, How can the church embrace indigenous peoples theology in a postcolonial Australia? Nathan Tyson was the event MC. He acknowledged that the subtitle implied that Australia, “was not there yet” in terms of being a nation that was “post colonialism.” Moderator Simon Hansford opened the event. He said there was much to the use of “embrace” in the event title. “It isn’t tolerate, it isn’t endure, it… requires work and time,” Rev. Hansford said. “There is hope and expectation in this gathering.” Rev. Hansford said he looked forward to, “many more years of this gathering.” As well as the keynote addresses, there was a performance from the Pymble Ladies College First Nations Students. JONATHAN FOYE
22 to 26 August 1983 was where the Congress was inaugurated. While it was a big event, according to Rev. Kickett, knowledge of the Congress was not widespread. “There is a blockage somewhere that does not allow the seeds of this relationship to trickle down to the people in the pews,” he said. Rev. Kickett shared meeting several people who had never heard about the Congress and the Covenant. He said that Congress now faced a question of, “how serious the relationship between the Congress and the uniting church is.”
A NEW BEGINNING FOR CONGRESS
Rev. Mark Kickett is the Interim National Chairperson, Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC). He presented a keynote session devoted to the history of the Congress and what needed to happen in order to better promote its vision. “The place that the first nations people have in our church is paramount,” he said. Rev. Kickett said that colonialism was, in the words of J. Kehaulani Kauanui from Wesleyan University, “A structure, not an event”
REV. MARK KICKETT GIVING HIS KEYNOTE BUILDING ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CHURCH AND THE UNITING ABORIGINAL AND ISLANDER CHRISTIAN CONGRESS.
BELIEF MATTERSAN OFTEN-INVISIBLE IDENTITY, ASEXUALITY HAS GAINED VISIBILITY OF What can RECENT YEARS, BUT IT IS STILL A NEW CONCEPT TO MUCH OF THE CHURCH. we do withAsexuality and the Church
WHAT IS ASEXUALITY?
An asexual person typically experiences little to no sexual attraction. This usually means that they do not feel drawn to other people in a sexual way. Asexuality is different to celibacy, because it is not a choice to abstain from sexual activity, but an inherently different experience of sexuality. Asexuality is a spectrum containing many different identities and nuances. Some people on the asexual spectrum (or acespec people) do experience sexual attraction under specific circumstances, such as once an emotional bond is formed, while others never experience sexual attraction. Still others have fluctuating experiences of sexual attraction. Some ace-spec people do experience romantic attraction and do engage in romantic relationships. Others are aromantic, meaning they experience little to no romantic attraction. Within the asexual and aromantic communities, there is an understanding that sexual and romantic attraction are separate experiences that may or may not align. This idea is called the Split Attraction Model, and it enables people within these communities and beyond to communicate about the nuances of their experience. These communities have also expanded the vocabulary of attraction to include experiences such as aesthetic, sensual, and platonic attraction. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE CHURCH? Olivia* is a young person in the Uniting Church who identifies as demisexual, demiromantic, and bi, meaning that she can only experience sexual and romantic attraction to a person after they have connected on a deep emotional level. She described how “a lot of things that are framed as 'sexual temptation' for Christian young people was never an issue I really faced.” “As someone who doesn't feel strongly drawn to a relationship… I think it shapes my understanding of faithfulness and who I am called by God to be,” Olivia told Insights. She wishes the
church knew that ace-spec people’s “relationships and life rhythms are… likely to look different from allosexual [nonasexual] members of the church, and that's important to understand.” Growing up outside of the Uniting Church, she observed, “purity culture presumes that all people experience attraction and want to have sex in the same way, and that can be really disorientating and confusing as a young ace-spec person within the church.” Olivia told Insights that the language of asexuality WHEN and aromanticism is also valuable for people outside of these communities, and that “having a [church] SOMEONE community that does not expect or require [being SHARES THEIR STORY, BELIEVE partnered] to be able to participate meaningfully is a really powerful and beautiful antidote to the rest of the world's expectations.”
THEM. DON'T JUDGE THEM Kate is also a young person in the Uniting Church, and she describes her experience as fluctuating between AND DON'T TREAT THEM DIFFERENTLY asexual and demisexual. She expressed a feeling of brokenness before she knew about asexuality, and how “this revelation [that asexuality exists] made me even more in wonder at the creativity of God, that he creates us so incredibly different, and all the different forms and levels of love.” Kate wishes the church knew that “it is very possible to be asexual and still have a partner and children; I do.” She even described that her asexuality makes her marriage “stronger.” Kate told Insights that the church can support ace-spec people by removing the pressure to have a partner, get married, and have kids. “Also, when someone shares their story, believe them, don't judge them, and don't treat them differently.” *Name has been changed for anonymity. GABI CADENHEAD MISSION WORKER FOR CHRISTIAN STUDENTS UNITING UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
A triple book launch
On Wednesday, 19 October, three members of the Synod’s Vital Leadership Team launched their books.
Matt Anslow’s book, Fulfilling the Law and the Prophets positions Jesus as a popular prophet within Matthew’s Gospel, and explores the implications of this.
Associate Professor David Neville spoke about the book. Dr Neville was responsible for supervising the PhD dissertation that led to the book.
“With this book, Matt Anslow rectifies what was once a curious discrepancy,” he said.
“The Gospel according to Matthew has been relatively neglected when it comes to New Testament prophecy.” “Scholars have long said that Luke’s Gospel is prophetic, but now…this must also be said about Matthew’s picture of Jesus.”
He praised the book’s “thorough preparation” and grounding in the Gospel in the book’s opening chapters. “The heart of this book is the four exegetical chapters, each of which focuses on four passages.” “A significant contribution to Matthew scholarship…This book is as carefully crafted as it is considered.”
“What is relevant in Matthew’s day, remains so relevant in Matthew Anslow’s day.” Dr Anslow said the writing and publication of the books had been a major undertaking. “My project, far from being a pure intellectual curiosity, has been the result of practical and pastoral concerns,” he said.
He said that a wide range of theological influences had informed him as a Christian.
“I’m a bit of a sojourner on the ecclesial and theological map,” he said. He said this had led to him developing some critical opinions about various understandings of prophecy. He said that while prophecy as “speaking truth to power”, such as advocacy on behalf of refugees, was something of a misunderstanding, potentially “seeking a kingdom without the King.” He said his book aimed to provide a better understanding of prophecy. “Matthew’s gospel seeks of prophecy more than any other New Testament text.”
“I’m convinced that academic theological pursuit are invaluable to the life of the church, but more so, the life of the church is essential to the academic theological pursuit.” Feminist perspectives on women and leadership is the subject of Jan Reeve’s new book. Former Moderator Mwung Wa Park introduced the book.
“This book invited many other women, especially women in leadership, to reflect on their own leadership.” Rev. Park said that she had been treated well by family because they understood that she had cultivated her mother’s womb for a male child.
She said her experience growing up had been a backseat role to male members of the family. “When I was elected Moderator Elect, someone referred to me as the foreign widow,” Rev. Park said.
“I was grateful to be connected to a biblical figure.” She said her experiences could be shared across many contexts.
“I was reading Jan’s little but powerful book, I could hardly prevent myself from…cheering the prophetic voice.” She said that women’s experience of struggles meant that they provided a unique way of being leaders. “Thankyou for your perseverance over 25 years (of ministry) which you include in this book,” she said. Rev. Park said she was “most grateful” for the book. Rev. Reeve said the book had been, “In my mind and heart for many years,” Rev. Reeve said.
“God laid on my heart to record the experience of women in ministry in the Uniting Church.” “I also wanted to gather some of the experience of the earlier women who were… trailblazers.’
“These women encourage me to write.”
She said that the book was the culmination of many years of writing essays and interviewing women who were in ministry in the Uniting Church. “I found it quite revealing what I found (more recently).” This, she said, included a drop off in the number of women who were candidates for ministry, down to around 24 percent in 2021. She expressed gratitude to Uniting Church president Rev. Sharon Hollis as well as Rev. Park, who had been the first ordained Asian woman to represent the church as NSW and ACT Moderator.
“The model of servant leadership is the model of Jesus’ leadership, which we need to rediscover.”
“I look forward to the time when more women will (serve) in the Uniting Church and other denominations as ordained leaders.”
Rev. Dr Niall McKay’s book Mark and literary materialism, explores a shift in South African theology. Emeritus Professor Gerald West, who delivered the 2022 May Macleod Lecture, introduced the book.
He spoke about the shift in theology. “I think the book has something to offer…not only in terms of literary production, but also literary reception.” “It comes at a time when de-colonialism (as a focus in theology) is thriving.” “It also makes a contribution to our reading of Mark.” “Mark lends itself to a linkage between the ideological and the material…that I think will resonate with our context.”
“My hope would be that this book would make a contribution in the Australian and wider Pacific context.” “My sense is that Niall is a faithful remnant…within the Australian-Pacific area, which is engaging with liberation theology.” In a sombre moment, Professor West noted that Albert Nolan, one of the dialogue partners in the book, had passed away the previous night.
DR MATT ANSLOW’S FULFILLING THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS, REV. JAN REEVE'S FEMINIST PERSPECTIVES ON WOMEN AND LEADERSHIP, AND DR NIALL MCKAY'S MARK AND LITERARY MATERIALISM WERE ALL LAUNCHED AT THE CENTRE FOR MINISTRY IN NORTH PARRAMATTA
Rev. Dr McKay said he had learnt a lot from Professor West.
He also paid tribute to Albert Nolan. “His humble life and faith were in contrast to Albert’s leadership and prophetic work,” Rev. McKay said.
“I’m not sure what reception my book will get or who will read it.”
“If it contributes to a growing hermeneutic that helps (support a life giving) liberative hermeneutic, I will be happy,” he said. A JOY TO WITNESS
Moderator Simon Hansford also spoke at the event. Rev. Hansford said that it was a gift to be a Moderator between “two fabulous women.”
“A colleague of mine said it is always useful to quote the Basis of Union.”
He quoted a section about the role of scholarship. “I’m here…to let you know how proud I am and how proud the Synod are of work like this,” Rev. Hansford said. “The Uniting Church acknowledges that God has never left the Church without faithful and scholarly interpreters of Scripture, or without those who have reflected deeply upon, and acted trustingly in obedience to, God's living Word.” “In particular the Uniting Church enters into the inheritance of literary, historical and scientific enquiry which has characterised recent centuries, and gives thanks for the knowledge of God's ways with humanity which are open to an informed faith.” He said it was “an important gift to the church to have people to remind us what discipleship is” and that it was rare for a Moderator to be able to launch three books.
UTC Principal Rev. Peter Walker said that it was a “joy” to witness the launch. “What a joy it is to acknowledge together years and years of thoughtfulness and scholarship,” Rev. Walker said.
He played tribute to, “The amount of the self that goes into those pages.” “The Vital Leadership Team is a gem,” he said. “To have three books launched in the Vital Leadership Team must be some kind of record.”
“Your whole selves are in these works.”
Rev. Dr Walker also thanked Rohan England and Melissa Wang for their roles in organising and running the event.
JONATHAN FOYE
Joy and Ernie Finding care in a connected community
For Joy and Ernie, moving to a retirement community was a practical decision. They wanted peace of mind and to be close to family. But what they discovered, however, was the heartbeat of Alan Walker Village: a close-knit, connected community, caring staff and security. And they’ve never looked back.
MAKING THE MOVE
After almost 50 years in their family home, Joy and Ernie decided it was time to move. While they both loved their family home, Joy says as they got older and their needs changed, they were looking for a simpler way of living. “Joy wanted security,” says Ernie. “We felt if something happened to either one of us, it’d be better to be part of a community and to feel safe.” With family nearby, Joy and Ernie knew the area they wanted to move to, but not which retirement village. “We went to one of those seminars and saw all the different [retirement communities] in this area and talked to the people,” says Joy. “We rang a few to make appointments, and Alan Walker Village was the only one who got back to us. So, we came and looked here, and this is where we are.” A FRESH START Once they decided on Alan Walker Village in Carlingford, Joy and Ernie moved within six months. “We wanted to do it while we were young enough,” says Joy. “It was explained to us what we had to pay for the unit and the money came out over the years. Our family was happy because it took any worry off them for having to look after us.” Even though they were new to the area, Joy and Ernie settled in very quickly. “We were welcomed very warmly,” says Ernie. “We found the staff very good, which made it a lot easier for us.” IT’S THE PEOPLE Both Joy and Ernie agree that it’s the people that make Alan Walker Village a great place to live. “We’ve heard [from] other people
THIS IS LIKE that said they wouldn’t go into
BEING IN A [a retirement village] because it was cold and not friendly,” says
HOLIDAY Ernie. “But this place is exactly the RESORT opposite.” IT’S LIKE Joy agrees, “I’ve made friends with a lot of women with similar HOLIDAYS interests. We also have family EVERY DAY OF nearby. They come every Friday night for dinner, and we go to THE YEAR their place every Wednesday for afternoon tea.” JUST LIKE A HOLIDAY Joy admits she had no idea what living in a retirement village would be like. “We didn’t come in here to be entertained. We just expected to come in here and live as if we were living in a block of units,” she says. “The one thing that surprised me was one day, when we were sitting on our balcony having morning tea, I said to my husband, ‘This is like being in a holiday resort. It’s like holidays every day of the year’.” Ernie says if they could do it again, they would have moved in earlier. “We probably would have enjoyed it just as much,” he says. “We definitely shouldn’t have left it any longer. Our lives have improved.” Joy agrees, “Yes, we’re definitely more relaxed. We don’t have to worry about maintenance or painting houses and doing lawns. It’s a much more relaxed lifestyle.” A PLACE TO CALL HOME
For Joy and Ernie the real benefit of Alan Walker Village is the warmth of the community and the sense of safety they feel living here. “The atmosphere of the place is very friendly and very welcoming,” Ernie says. “And we found that right from the start.”
Joy agrees, “Everybody helps you if you need it. Everybody always speaks to you. And it’s fantastic the way the staff know everyone’s names – I don’t know how they do it! “We just like living here. It’s lovely and relaxing. It’s just like living at home.”
FIND OUT MORE
Experience the community and comfort of Alan Walker Village for yourself. Whether you’re ready to make the move or need more information, we’re here to help. To learn more or book a private tour, call 1800 931 107 or visit wesleyretirementliving.org.au. Discover how Wesley Mission can you help you live well at every stage of life at wesleymission.org.au/seniors.
