Dr Michelle Foster, Melbourne Law School

The first of these ‘Carlton Conversations at the Clare’ was host to Michelle Foster, a refugee lawyer from Melbourne Law School. She was in conversation with Melbourne Uni chaplain Wes Campbell, who interviewed her about her background and upbringing and what led her to become a legal academic passionately defending the wretched of the earth who find precious little sympathy in contemporary Australia.

Foster described herself as naturally optimistic, which contributes to her staying power. Her hopes were raised with the advent of the Rudd Government and its efforts to reverse some of the immigration policies of the Howard years – such as the Pacific Solution and Temporary Protection Visas – which had made Australia an “international pariah.”

But her expectations were far from fulfilled. Mandatory detention continues, and the thousands of off-shore islands which the Howard Government ‘excised’ from Australia’s international legal obligations remain rights-free zones for anyone washing up there.

Dr Foster painted a vivid picture of Australia as almost alone in a region of non-signatories to the Refugee Convention, explaining why refugees who make it to Indonesia are afforded no protection there; no status or support, no means of making a new life. And so they venture on to a country purporting to uphold their human rights.

Most Australians do not appreciate that the vast majority of asylum seekers arrive by plane, not boat, and live peaceably in the community awaiting determination of their claim. It is a breach of the Refugee Convention to penalise them on the mode of their arrival. However they arrive, most are eventually accorded refugee status; and all of them dwarf in number compared with other categories of immigration. ‘Boatpeople’ should simply not figure in the population debate.

And so Michelle Foster’s struggle continues: defending the Refugee Convention from its critics, and inspiring a new generation of law students with her vision of a decent and just world in which people fleeing persecution are met with compassion and protection.

Carlton Conversations at the Clare continue on 19 August with disability advocate Rhonda Galbally explaining what she believes and why.

In subsequent months, we’ll hear from peace activist Rev. Simon Moyle (16 Sept), historian and philosopher of science Kristian Camilleri (21 Oct), and Indigenous musician Jessie Lloyd (18 Nov).

Bookings: 0423 407 499 or australiadreaming@carlton-uca.org

Look out for these and other Australia Dreaming events at http://carlton-uca.org/australia-dreaming/

You are warmly invited to attend our Holy Week services:

Wed 31 March, 7:45am

Thur 1 April, 7pm — incl. a shared meal

Fri 2 April, 10am — followed by hot cross buns

Sun 4 April, 10am

And, moreover, our 150th anniversary service at 10am on Sunday 11 April.

Rev. Alistair Macrae

We are honoured to welcome as guest preacher the Rev. Alistair Macrae, President of the Uniting Church in Australia, for this special occasion.  He will also unveil an engraved stone commemorating the anniversary.

Please stay for lunch after the service (free of charge), followed by a choice of local history walks.  Don’t miss our superb display of historical documents and artefacts from the rich history of the 10 churches in Carlton and North Carlton that are today represented in the Uniting Church in Palmerston Street.

There are 2 key dates for your diary:

Saturday 27 March

6:30 for 7pm – Anniversary Dinner in the Dyson Hall at 180 Palmerston St, Carlton ($20 a head)

A history of the Church of All Nations titled The Need is the Call, edited by Paul Madden, will be launched on the night.

Sunday 11 April

Rev. Alistair Macrae

10am – Service of worship and thanksgiving, 180 Palmerston St, Carlton

Guest preacher: the Rev. Alistair Macrae, President of the Uniting Church in Australia

A Heritage Victoria plaque and an engraved stone commemorating the anniversary will be unveiled.

Please stay for lunch after the service (free of charge), followed by a choice of local history walks.

For more details and to book for the dinner, please phone (03) 9347 7077 or complete and return this form.

Monday 21 December

11:15am – CAN Centre service in the church
12 noon – Christmas community lunch, including distribution of toys by Carlton police

Wednesday 23 December

7:45am – service of Holy Communion in the Fullerton Chapel (inside the church)

Thursday 24 December

11pm – Christmas Eve service with Holy Communion

Friday 25 December

9am – Christmas Day service (note earlier time)
10:30am – Join us for our Community Christmas brunch

Sunday 27 December

10am – regular Sunday service – a reflection on the year past and hope for the year ahead

Sunday 5 January 2010

CAN Community Support reopens

For more information on any of these, please ring 9347 7077.

Snoeks Desmond with fellow adult educator Jean Evans

Early on Saturday morning, 17 October 2009, a group of CAN members was joined by several adult literacy teachers in the Ruth Sugden Tower room, first for a delicious breakfast and then to listen to Snoeks Desmond from Durban, South Africa.

Snoeks is an early childhood development and family literacy expert who spoke about her work with the Family Literacy Program.  Snoeks established the program in the province of Kwa Zulu Natal in 2000, but she now travels into other African countries advising governments and other agencies who want to set up their own family literacy programs.

Kwa Zulu Natal is where Alan Paton’s novel ‘Cry the Beloved Country’ is set.  It is now the province most affected by HIV Aids and Snoeks talked about how important literacy is in educating about such issues as HIV Aids and health and sanitation.

Leah, Niko & Mac at the breakfast

Snoeks’ presentation provided a moving account of the work of the family literacy program, and a small glimpse into life in this part of South Africa.

The Family Literacy Program is an NGO (non-government organisation) which has won several significant educational awards.  This was Snoeks’ first visit to Australia and she was supported by the Victorian Adult Literacy and Basic Education Council.

Wed 17 Dec — Toy distribution

Fri 19 Dec — Indigenous Hospitality House invites you to their BBQ (6pm) and worship (7pm)

Sun 21 Dec — Community Christmas Carols outside the church, featuring the Melbourne Mass Gospel Choir

Mon 22 Dec — Community Christmas lunch, 11:30am-1pm in the Drop-in Centre

Wed 24 Dec — 11pm service of Holy Communion on Christmas Eve

Thur 25 Dec — Worship on Christmas morning at 9 o’clock, followed by community Christmas brunch at 10:30am

Kelly's Beach, Queensland 2007

When has God seemed most real to you?

How have you experienced moments of transcendence?

Where do you see God revealed?

These are some of the questions members of our congregation have pondered in the months leading up to Advent.  Their reflections in prose, verse and image have been collected in a diverse and intimate volume for devotional use.  You can download the booklet here: CAN Advent Reflections 2008 (1 MB pdf)  With many thanks to Mac & Jeff for your gifts of encouragement, and for Mac’s photo at left.

Avril was a long-time student of Melbourne University with a law degree and doctorate in Uniting Church history. She was a member at Church of All Nations when she began training for ordained ministry. She recently spent 5 months studying ecumenical spirituality with the World Council of Churches in Switzerland.

Avril is currently serving her internship in rural ministry to four congregations: Romsey, Riddells Creek, Mt Macedon and Lancefield.

Her service of ordination will be held at Church of All Nations on Sunday 5 October at 2:30pm.

This popular choir rehearses weekly at the Church of All Nations. Keep an eye on the MMGC website for future concert dates.