It is now only just over a week till I depart en route to Australia, and I am preparing for myvisit with much anticipation. As I write, theweather in Glasgow is cold, wet, sleety andwindy-the worst kind of Scottish winter-and I am looking forward to seeing the sun! Butmore than that, I am looking forward verymuch to meeting the Wellspring Communitymembers, participating in your gathering,sharing hopes, concerns and common values,and seeing something of your country. I knowit will be a rich and creative time.

The programme you have organised for me is full and fascinating. I think that by the end of it, I will have seen more of Australia than many Australians ever

do. I am very grateful for this wonderful opportunity, and look forward to learning much more about you.

The link with the Wellspring Community is an important one for the Iona Community, and Peter Millar has told me so much about you all, and with such affection, that I am sure it will be a fruitful visit.

Blessings and peace to you all.

Kathy Galloway

Here we are in a new year with a fresh look for Pipeline, thanks to the excellent work of designer Chrisy Savvides. This is also the last edition before Kathy’s Australian pilgrimage and our 2007 Community Gathering. So it seemed appropriate to include some words of greeting from Kathy on the eve of her visit, and to reflect together more specifically on the Beatitudes through which we will be exploring “Walking the Edge” at the Gathering (and again in this calendar year). We know that a number of Friends (and some members) are not able to be with us in Canberra in March – but we hope that you will be able to journey with us in spirit.

Those of us attending the Gathering have been receiving some very rich material on the Beatitudes, prepared for us by Geoff Stevenson (NSW). Good study material offers riches at both the personal and the communal level. It can challenge my own thinking and acting, help me to clarify my own values and beliefs and also, open up further conversation between us. In such conversation we may wrestle together with the challenges of the material; we may also identify the commonly felt themes or questions; and we can be enlight-ened by our different responses as we share our varying life experiences with one another.

I thought it timely to begin a conversation by asking regional Wellspringers from across the states to share something of their ponderings on one or more of the beatitudes. Some are attending the Gathering and have received

The Newsletter of the Wellspring Community Inc • An Australian Community inspired by the Iona Community

P I P E L I N E

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 7

» INSIDE this issue

» Joint Leaders’ Letter

“ We did not knoweach other very well but sensed we could work together effectively.”Page 3

» The Beatitudes and Walking the Edge – Ailsa Maley (WA)

“I try to feel not for the other but with the other.” Page 3

» Hungering for Justice – Christa Megaw (SA)

“We have inherited both the good and the bad of the past in our country and as Australians.” Page 5

» LIVING THE BEATITUDES

▲ Kathy Galloway

» Cursed and Blest – Marilyn Obersby

(VIC)

“Someone had to ensure my dad was cared for. But it came at a cost.” Page 5

» MESSAGE FROM IONA

Geoff’s material – others have not. I issue a particular thanks to Ailsa Maley (WA), Christa Megaw (SA) and Marilyn Obersby (VIC) for their thoughtful and very personal responses to my request. I think their sharing sets the scene especially well for our community time in March.

Neil Holm and Peggy Goldsmith, in their last leaders’ letter, share their experience of joint leadership of our community over a period of four years. Thanks also to HelenWeavers for suggesting the inclusion of Kathy Galloway’s poem, and to Gwen Wilson on news of a Celtic Pilgrimage held Down-under in 2006. Merilyn Tandukar’s thoughtful prayer/ritual on peace was sent on to me many months ago; it seemed a very appropriate inclusion for this issue.

An oft-quoted maxim is: do not ask others to do what you would not do yourself. So I thought I would ‘kick-off’ the conversation, which Ailsa, Christa and Marilyn will continue. . .My contribution arises out of certain observations I made while reading Kathy Galloway’s recent collection of her sermons and reflections, Walking in Darkness and Light. Specifically, I noticed some interesting resonances with the Beatitudes – especially in connection with some of Geoff’s reflections. In what follows I will draw on and quote some of these relevant passages from Kathy’s book.

Blessed are the poor in spirit!“It has been the case in every time and culture that it [is] the poor and defenceless whose trust in God has been the most marked; those people

whose powerlessness has meant they had no illusions of control.”(p.59)

As Geoff described them: these are the ones who recognise their own personal need for, indeed their absolute dependence on God; that God alone can satisfy their deepest needs.

Yet I would also add that this dependence on God is not some abstract, ‘ethereally spiritual’ need for God; this is just as much about our absolute need for the “God-with-skin-on” - for other human beings.

The ‘blessing’ I received from my experience of depression was the shattering of the illusion of self- sufficiency, of my very real need for the care and help of others. It can be comforting in some ways to see ourselves as dependent on God – but it is very disturbing to come face-to-face with our own neediness, to not be able to run away from this neediness as we often can in ‘normal life’. It is disturbing to be forced, for our health’s sake, to ask others for help in achieving tasks that we usually handled easily on our own. Good mental/emotional/spiritual health ultimately requires us to see selfsufficiency not as a strength but as a weakness – and as a weakness that will lead us further into the spiral of depression unless we have the courage to lay it aside.

Blessed are those who mourn!“[As Christians] we are the ones who have the answer to all sadness and loss. ‘Gone to a better place’, ‘all suffering over’, ‘all passion spent’. In reality, death strips us naked, shatters our world, disintegrates our identity,

» LIVING THE BEATITUDES cont.

whatever kind of death it is. Its pain is huge.” (pp.60, 61)

For Kathy and Geoff this blessing is not about undermining or limiting the reality of death and grief – quite the contrary. As Kathy reminds us, Jesus himself was one who mourned deeply and fully at times: for his beloved city and his beloved friend, Lazarus. Yet what this blessing is saying is: even when there seems no hope, the promise of hope remains true; we are utterly abandoned and forsaken, and yet we are not. Some-times it is too much to believe in that hope for ourselves; sometimes we may need to ask someone “to hold the Christ-light for us, in the night-time of our fear”, in the words of a hymn. Deep within us there remains a desire for life – a desire that God loves in us, and a “life that God desires for us”. To take this blessing into one’s heart is to be standing at the very edge of the abyss, but to refuse to step into it. Kathy quotes a beautiful prayer of Ruben Alves:“Lord,help us to see in the groaning of creation not death throes but birth pangs;help us to see in suffering a promise for the future,because it is a cry against the inhumanity of the present.Help us to glimpse in protestthe dawn of justice,in the Crossthe pathway to resurrection,and in sufferingthe seeds of joy.”

Ruth Dunnicliff-Hagan

P I P E L I N E • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 7 • P A G E 2

At the end of the 2003 National Gathering – Pilgrimage to the Centre – Anne McPherson handed leadership of the Wellspring Community on to us. We’ve enjoyed the privilege of serving in this role for almost 4 years and it is now time for us to step back and allow others the opportunity. Over the past few months theWellspring Community Council has engaged in an informal process of discernment about new leadership. Various discussions have taken place but to this point we still await inspiration.

When Anne indicated that she wanted to step down as leader we offered ourselves as joint leaders of the Community. For us this was a good option.We did not know each other very well but we sensed we could work together effectively.

We both have been active pastorally. We loosely divided the organisational roles between us. We alternate in chairing Council meetings. Neil has tended to look after administrative things. He liaises with the Treasurer and the Secretary Admin Officer and he has been responsible for the development and maintenance of the website. Neil has written and helped prepare resource materials for Gatherings. We have both welcomed

and farewelled Friends and Members by letter.

Neil has been r e f e r e n c e po in t f o r th e St a t e C o n t a c t Persons in

South Australia,Western Australia, and Victoria (although Mary Gilchrist has picked up this last role in recent times) and visited those States for Wellspring.

Peggy has visited and been the reference person for Tasmania, NSW, ACT and Queensland. She has been active in the planning and o r g a n i s i n g o f t h e N a t i o n a l Ga the r ing s and in the liaising needed f o r K a t h y G a l l o w a y ’s itinerary and visit this year.

Peggy and Neil have shared in the oversight and production of Pipeline. Liaison with Contact Persons for the Areas of Concern has been an area of responsibility which we both have felt has needed more attention than we have been able to give.

Although we are stepping down, Margaret Holm has said that she will continue in the role of Secretary/Admin Officer if that is the wish of the Community. This will help with the transition process. In this role Margaret receives all correspondence and in consultation with Neil decides who should deal with it. She looks after all membership matters and maintains the database. In recent times she has become an increasing link between the contact person in the states and in the Areas of Concern. Her workload has been increasing as the Community has developed.

We ask all members and friends of the Community to engage in prayerful discernment about who might become the next leader(s). Please discuss this in your cell groups and

offer any suggestions to us or to other members of the Council.

Neil has written a reflection on leadership on the Wellspring blog (7 February). Go to http://www.wellspringcommunity.org.au/blog/i ndex.php. He looks at the kinds of leaders that God has chosen at some times in the past. He considers especially leadership of “queer fish” organizations – and he considers the Wellspring Community to be a “queer fish” organization. Linking the Beatitudes and other Scripture passages he urges us to look deeply at each other, to see beyond the “too young, too timid, too old, too immoral, too weak, too unassertive, or too indecisive”. He urges us to open our eyes to discern the meek, the merciful, and the pure in heart.

Please consider these matters deeply as we meet for the National Gathering. It is our time to get to know each other. It is our time when God can reveal the person or persons of choice.

Neil Holm & Peggy Goldsmith

Jesus walked and talked among and to people who followed him everywhere. When he wanted to speak to the Disciples/Apostles, those handpicked men he chose to have a special role in the bringing in of the Kingdom of God, he went up the hill with them (away from the crowd) and sat down and taught them. Jesus did not give a sermon or even a homily. He taught! Even the sitting down is significant in this regard too, as this is what the rabbis did when they were teaching.

P I P E L I N E • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 7 • P A G E 3

» JOINT LEADERS’ LETTER -

CONCERNING

AND DISCERNING

LEADERSHIP

» THE BEATITUDES AND WALKING THE EDGE -

Ai lsa Maley (WA)

▲ Neil Holm

Peggy Goldsmith ▲

This teaching was serious stuff, imparted to serious men, obviously totally committed at the time to follow Jesus and his words to the very depths and heights of their being. He wanted them to be assured of blessings on the way, for with each of the Beatitudes there is a free gift from God: “Blessed are the Peacemakers for God shall call them his sons” and “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God,” for instance. Wow!

I do not favour the word ‘Happy’ being changed for ‘Blessed’, as in some bible translations these days. Happy is not a strong word: my young grand-children are happy when I give them an icecream; I am happy when I’ve finally cleaned out a cupboard that’s been waiting for me to attack all year (although I may feel blest too, if some item comes to light in the process!). But ‘Blessed’ is “a serene and certain joy, not a promise for the future, but here and now” - to quoteWilliam Barclay.

As I reflect on these teachings of Jesus, I am both inspired and humbled, especially as I ponder ‘Walking the Edge’ at the same time. As a child of the Great Depression, as one of five children in a fatherless home, I walked the edge with my widowed mother and siblings many times. In the absence of pensions and allowances, I am sure God provided for us through the compassionate ministrations of kindly and generous people, and so assisted us not to fall off the edge! Blessed are the merciful for others. God will be merciful to them – and I’m sure he was.

But now to the present day, and how I must tackle ‘Walking the Edge’ here and now and show mercy when a possibility presents itself. I cannot share in the sorts of examples – the true stories that Geoff Stevenson writes

of. One can only work in the perspective of where one stands; my situation is very limited.Would it surprise you to learn that on only one occasion have I ever seen a woman in Muslim dress in town? She was obviously a tourist. I have never seen an aboriginal person here – I’d need to travel about 30 kms to do so. The only non-Australian accents here are English, Scottish, Irish, American, New Zealand and some German; the most exotic would be Asian. Pretty bland!

So being merciful for me is to be forgiving when such situations do present themselves. I endeavour to show loving kindness, which at times can come close to Walking on the Edge.

One incident which stays with me is when I was asking friends to sign the

petition about immigration which Kim Beazley presented earlier this year. I was dismayed and saddened when I was met with refusals, including some church-going people. I was telling someone of this later, and her response was a question: “Are they still your friends?” My response was “Yes,” I have forgiven them. We have a different perspective but they are still my friends. In fact, I think it is mostly through Peace and Justice issues in which I have been active (in a small way) over the years that I have been alerted to being forgiving as God is forgiving me – when praying the Lord’s Prayer.

I try to identify with the other person as totally as possible, and try to feel not FOR the other but WITH them.We do not always know the reason people act as they do – childhood experiences for example. I recall the Native American saying that has long been meaningful for me: “Do not judge anyone until you have walked a mile in their moccasins.”

And so, as you and I take seriously the words of the Beatitudes – the Blesseds in our day-today living - and in so doing dare to be different, we must surely have times of Walk-ing the Edge.We know that a loving God walks with us; let us be prepared for God to send us out to touch the world with blessings in his name.

P I P E L I N E • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 7 • P A G E 4

» THE BEATITUDES AND WALKING THE EDGE cont.

▲ Ailsa Maley

▼ Cape Naturaliste hinterland, near Dunsborough,WA ©2007 Ken Maley – used with permission.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Recently I was privileged to hear the keynote speech given by Bishop George Browning, Anglican Bishop of Canberra and Goulbourn, at a conference in Melbourne. He spoke about righteousness as meaning right relationships between ourselves and God, ourselves and the community, and ourselves and people in other countries. This is very different from the way decisions are made in our country, usually based on individual economic benefit. He stated that “individualism is the enemy of right-eousness because it doesn’t take into account the relationships which undergird the well being of all humankind.” Here is a call to all of us, as people of God, to live out a way of community, by “walking the edge” together.

We have inherited both the good and the bad of the past in our country and as Australians; we have avoided one of the most important corporate responsibilities

– to say sorry to the Aboriginal people. I admire theWellspring members who keep on working on Aboriginal Reconciliation. If pain is not dealt with appropriately, it is constantly remembered and acted out. Pain must be respected, listened to and apologies offered for healing to take place.

It is only when this is done that we can put it aside and move on to the future – not an easy call.

I know this in my own life and I have also seen it affect the lives of many refugees. Most asylum seekers have now been released from detention, but many struggle to cope in our community. They are often lonely and carry pain and trauma from past experiences, both from their home countries and through being locked up for four or five years. For me, “walking the edge” has been working together in a Circle of Friends group to connect with some refugees and doing what I could to help them on their way. This has often brought many challenges but has been an enriching time in which I have learnt not only about other cultures but also about Australian culture, seen through other eyes.

Another area of Wellspring concern is caring for the Environment. This issue has become increasingly prominent in the media as we all realise it is vital to our future. Again, it is about right relationships, this time with the environment.We believe that every person and all life is sacred to God. Surely we have no right to a standard of living that reduces the quality of life on earth for future generations. Apart from becoming more aware of the issue and taking small steps in the

home to look after our environment, I feel I have not done a lot in this area – perhaps this will become the Edge for me.

As 2007 unfolds and I am discerning what God has in store for me, I like the image of Walking the Edge. For me, it seems to be tied up with hungering and thirsting for righteousness (or right relationships) and is a necessary part of being on the journey.

“Henceforth we’ll meet as strangers,” she said. What else could I have done? My dad was old, alone, sick and frail – deserted after 59 years of marriage by my mother. There was no-one else to care for him except his sister - already 80 herself. Someone had to ensure he was cared for. But it came at a cost. He was still my dad, and I loved him. My relationship with him hadn’t ended because my mother’s had. However, my mother decided she no longer wanted me as her daughter because I helped my dad as I helped her. My dad’s last years were made so miserable by the deliberate malice and vindictiveness visited on him and on me. There seems no possibility of healing or reconciliation just now.What has hurt most was her accusation that I was supposed to be working for God, but was really working for the devil; and no wonder the church was where it was when there were people like me in it.

Blessed are you who are persecuted in the cause of justice; the kingdom of heaven is yours.

P I P E L I N E • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 7 • P A G E 5

» HUNGERING FOR JUSTICE -

Christa Megaw (SA)

▲ Christa Megaw

» CURSED & BLEST -

Marilyn Obersby (VIC)

Sometimes what seems so clear in Gospel values is quite different to the world’s values. Many people see issues in black and white – a bit like our present government’s economic rationalist policies, that fail to see the person and the individual, and see only numbers and statistics, applying blanket solutions to everyone no matter how inappropriate in many cases. So we have had cases of Australian citizens deported or imprisoned, when they were mentally ill or too sick to be able to speak for themselves, people denied sickness or welfare benefits, or having benefits cut off arbitrarily, often mistakenly. And it is always the poor and powerless who are the worst victims of bureaucracy. Advocating on an individual’s or a group’s behalf may be costly in many ways.We may be ridiculed, threatened, bullied or even lose our jobs or suffer physical injury. But we are called to walk that edge and live with integrity ourselves, to refuse to be silenced. I believe as a community of spiritually aware people, we have to keep speaking out on issues of injustice. Perhaps we can all join Get up or something similar, and ensure our voice, really God’s voice, on the plight of powerless and marginalised people, is heard loud and clear in the corridors of govern-

ment and business.

“God,give us an awareness of the injustice in ourown communities and our own lives;then give us the courage to stand up and speakout for the truth in defence of those who areunable to defend themselves,so that we may bring,not the world’s justice,but yours.”In Christ’s name,who spoke out for justice and lovethough it cost him his life,we pray. Amen.

Blessed are you when people revile and curse you, and accuse you of all kinds of things falsely, for my sake. Be happy and celebrate, because your reward in heaven will be great. They persecuted the prophets and seekers of justice before you, and will continue to do so.

Once, when I divided the world into goodies and baddies,I always sided with the goodies,and was full of righteous indignationagainst the baddies.

Later, when the world was less simple,and I less sure of my own goodness,I groaned under the burden of perfection,and feared the weight of judgement.

Now, I have come to know judgement as a teacher.It has taught me that I am a body that needs cared for.If one part is neglected, all the other parts suffer too.

And I am part of the body politic –of a family, a community, a nation,of the human body and the earth body.If one part suffers, all the other parts suffer too.

Misery breeds hostility, hostility, fear;and fear casts out love.I am cast out from the body.This is damnation.

But care gives birth to justice,justice generates acceptance.Acceptance is moved to love,and love, overcomes fear.I am connected to the body.This is life.

And I no longer groan under the burden of perfection.I am simply glad to share the sorrows and joys of the body,and we hold each other up.So will the nations be judged.Hungry, homeless, sick, refugee, prisoner...

Jesus says, ‘this is my body’.From: “Talking to the Bones – poems, prayers and meditations.” by Kathy Galloway.Cromwell Press, Melksham, Wiltshire. 1996.

My favourtie things will roll and sway,Or gently rock at close of day.Things soft and fleecy - free of gloss,Like powder-puffs and Fairy Floss.Delicate stuff, like thistle-dwon,Petals and feathers and leaves redbrown -That glide and float to earth in flight...And soft diffusing candle-light.I don’t like things that jerk and jag,That lump and bump and skitter and snag.Things brittle, sharp, of splintery make,And flimsy things that fall - and break!And there are sounds that shriek and scream,That shatter an idyllic dream.I don’t like a harsh metallic sound,Or see gaudy neon lights abound.

But People - that’s a different story, They come to earth in God’s own glory.And some are this, and some are that.And some are thin, and some are fat.Nasty, pleasing, jarring, faking.(Which may not be of their own making!)We must see past the awkward dressTo inner soul - and then caress.

P I P E L I N E • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 7 • P A G E 6

» CURSED AND BLEST cont.

▲ Silver Birch in Marilyn’s Backyard

» F INAL JUDGEMENT -

Kathy Gal loway

» HARMONY OF LIFE -

Ai lsa Maley

Plant a seed of peace in your soul.

Find a special corner, warm and safe.

Nurture it

feed it with

silent thoughts,

beautiful words,

occasional tears,

quiet moments of meditation.

Watch it grow.......

When it flowers, collect the seeds.

Hand each one to a person close to you.

And when you place them in the hand

of your

friend

lover

son

daughter

neighbour

foe

Say to them:

Plant this seed of peace in your soul ...

M.Tandukar 21.5.06

Recently, a fellow Wellspringer expressed an interested in hearing about the Dayspring Centre in Perth, listed in theWellspring Community directory, and suggested that perhaps some information might be included in an edition of Pipeline for the benefit of all. To this end, I have obtained and included some information from the Dayspring website. Perhaps the Dayspring Centre may like to contribute further information and insight into their community, and their interest in Wellspring, in the next edition of Pipeline.

Dayspring Centre for Christian Spirituality and Counselling is an open community offering a safe and sacred space for nurturing the journey towards wholeness in God.

Dayspring is a quiet place where people are helped to find wholeness and inner healing. Spiritually and psychologically, they are enhanced through the development of their personal spirituality and relationship with God and through the deeper understanding of their ‘self ’ and their unconscious influences.

Dayspring sprang into life because of the dream and corporate prayer of a few people who desired to enrich individuals spiritually and psychologically, so they in turn, could enrich the communities in which they live.

With the support of Dianella Church of Christ, Dayspring has become a community committed to an ecumenical outlook and openness. This ecumenicity is reflected in its community, staff, programs and planning; and in its desire to support the diverse streams of Christian spirituality.

Community - Dayspring is a welcoming community where there is freedom and encouragement to journey with God and your inner self. Available to assist you in this journey are trained spiritual directors, retreats, teaching, quiet days, workshops & peaceful spaces for meditation.

Counselling - Christian, professional, supervised psychologist/counsellors are available to all. It also provides an aware, supportive service to those who are stumbling over psychological issues, which hinder their spiritual journeys.

Coursework - an accredited training program is available for those who wish to acquire recognised qualifications and deeper experiential learning in Christian spirituality.

Compassion - we are exploring ways we can express God’s love and compassion to those around us.

To be known across all faith communities and wider society as an authentic and life affirming community

To call people to prayer, wholeness, learning and growth; on a transformational journey, to inspired acts of compassion and discourse

-- an awareness of self, God and others-- the centrality of prayer, Scripture

and the Holy Spirit-- a Christ-centred spirituality-- the contemplative tradition-- discerning and living God’s will

in the world-- openness and dialogue-- a worshipping community-- hospitality-- compassion-- personal wholeness and integrity

Text sourced from the Dayspring website: www.dayspring.org.au

P I P E L I N E • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 7 • P A G E 7

» S E E D S O F P E A C E

» OUR VISION

» W H AT I S T H E D AY S P R I N G C O M M U N I T Y ?

» OUR MISSION

» OUR MISSION

P I P E L I N E • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 7 • P A G E 8

» WELLSPRING COUNCIL & CONTACTS

» Leaders: Peggy Goldsmith 02 4758 8104 pwgold@bigpond.net.au

Neil Holm 02 9868 5915 n_m_holm@internode.on.netDeputy Leader Clabon Allen 02 9798 4663 clabon_margaret@bigpond.comDeputy Leader/Treas. Margaret Allen 02 9798 4663 clabon_margaret@bigpond.comSecretary Margaret Holm 02 9868 5915 n_m_holm@internode.on.netPipeline Editor Ruth Dunnicliff-Hagan 02 6254 1885 affetuoso@velocitynet.com.auContact for ACT Merilyn Tandukar 02 6296 4046 mtandukar@dodo.com.auContact for NSW Gwen Wilson 02 4782 5581 gwendaline@comcen.com.auContact for QLD Christine Fensham 07 3392 1246 chrisfen@ihug.com.auConvenor for SA Val Bennett 08 8240 1945 normankbennett@yahoo.co.ukContact for TAS Pat McKenzie 03 6344 2357 patmckenzie9@bigpond.comContact for VIC Mary Gilchrist 02 9825 2197 mgilchrist@vtown.com.auContact for WA Janet Watts 08 9370 2279 janet.watts@uniting.com.au

» Contacts for Areas of Concern:Peace and Social Justice Justin Whelan 02 9572 7309 justinw@nsw.uca.org.auReconciliation Jonathan Inkpin 02 4324 2630 pelican@exemail.com.auThe Environment Lisa Wriley 02 4340 5425 wormss@bigpond.com.auEcumenical & Jenny Johnston 02 4973 3920 lancejen@acay.com.auInterfaith Issues: Mary GilchristSpirituality & Worship: Di Shearer 08 8536 3937 hdshea001@student.acu.edu.auOther Council members: Brian Ball 08 8337 8517 brianball@picknowl.com.au Jim Tulip 02 4758 8104 jamestulip@bigpond.com Helen Weavers 02 4968 4636 kweavers@bigpond.net.au

Wellspring Community Inc. ABN No. 81 293 869 355 PO Box 1689, Macquarie Centre, NSW 2113 • Phone: 02 9868 5915 • www.wellspringcommunity.org.au

Wellspring Community members

and friends, David Sloane, Gwen and

Wayne Masters, Joy and John Connor,

Judi th Kohlhagen and Gwen

Wilson were among the 30 walkers

who participated in the 6th Celtic

Pilgrimage, a contemplative walk

focused on the major themes of Celtic

spirituality. The 80km Pilgrimage, from

Wandiligong (near Bright) to Beech-

worth is organised by the Beechworth

Uniting Church and held in November

each year to coincide with the Beech-

worth Celtic Festival.

The photo was taken after lunch on

Rosie and Noel Bennett’s property

between Everton and Beechworth

on the last day of the five day walk.

» N E W S F R O M V I C T O R I A . . .