FRIEDEN AUF ERDEN

den Menschen die guten Willens sind. (Lukas).

Ein gelehrter Prediger nannte diesen Johannesvers "Jesu letztes Testament’, sein Vermächtnis – er will seinen Nachfolgern seinen Frieden schenken. Im Philipper Brief schreibt Paulus: ‘Dann wird der Frieden Gottes, der alles menschliche Begreifen übersteigt, euer Denken und Wollen im Guten bewahren, geborgen in der Gemeinschaft mit Jesus Christus’.

Wir können uns diesem Frieden öffnen und dieses wertvolle Geschenk annehmen, indem wir uns besinnliche Zeiten gönnen, in denen wir versuchen, alles Hässliche und Verbitterte in uns loszulassen. Versuchen zu vergeben, und auch um Vergebung zu bitten, denn jeder macht mal Fehler, auch wir selbst. Versuchen, zu akzeptieren, was wir nicht ändern können. Auch versuchen jeden negativen Gedanken, der in uns aufkommt, mit einem friedlichen zu ersetzen.

Bringen wir das fertig? Das kann sehr schwer sein, aber es lohnt sich. Denn ohne Frieden im Herzen können wir weder als taugliche Bausteine seines Tempels funktionieren, noch als eine Gemeinde, in der sein Geist herrscht.

Seien wir also guten Willens und versuchen, in und um uns Unfrieden und Unzufriedenheit zu heilen, damit sein Reich kommen kann, uns zum Segen.

H.U. Ed.

When I remember our old community life, what I particularly feel is deep gratitude for my sheltered, happy and carefree childhood. This sense of feeling utterly secure is certainly not a matter of course if you keep in mind that all of my childhood years in Palestine were a time of the most severe political tensions, of uncertain expectations of the future, ideological clashes and, lastly, World War II itself. I owe this feeling not only to my parents but to a large, loving, extended family, as well as to the wider community. I always felt confident that we children were loved and appreciated in the community and that any adult would have been ready to protect me and rush to my aid if necessary. As a legacy from my childhood, I have to this day preserved a large capacity of basic trust in my fellow human beings, only to realize painfully in later life that often a little distance and caution are more appropriate when dealing with people.

In a measure unimaginable nowadays, our community in Palestine was a communion of solidarity. I remember a discussion about insurance companies at my Uncle Jonathan Frank’s place. Somebody had suggested that the Germans in Palestine, too, should be offered the opportunity to participate in insurances for medical, pension or unemployment benefits. My uncle, the community head, thought this was unnecessary. He thought that a healthy individual could be expected to be in a position to look after himself and his loved ones by the work of his own two hands and to put something aside for a rainy day. Kinsfolk – and almost everyone had relatives in large numbers – had to help each other and for real emergencies there was always the community to fall back on. And that is how, in fact, things functioned. Being part of a caring society meant furthermore that, in the outside world, one always acted as a representative of the community and never said or did anything detrimental to it.

I think with gratitude of the men and women in the community who introduced me to the Christian faith. They did torment us a little, mind you, with proverbs and hymns, which we had to learn by heart, but now I am glad I have these at my disposal any time I need them. We were made familiar with the main texts of the Bible and its most important stories and parables. Never were we forced to throw our power of reason overboard, nor did we have to mouth doctrines. For me this became very important in the future because I never found myself in danger of having to reject all of Christianity because of a few incomprehensible tenets of faith. Never was I torn by conflicts about dogma like many other Christians. I was always free to make up my own mind in religious matters.

The biggest difference that set our communities in Palestine apart from Templer communities nowadays or from other Christian groups was that there was not the slightest chance of being a "Sunday Christian". What really counted was living one’s Christianity, how one in fact behaved towards one’s fellow man within the community. An individual was judged according to these values. Lovelessness in the family, neighbourly help denied and shady business practices could never be compensated for by ardent attendance at Sunday "Saal". Living so closely together for generations, with everyone knowing everyone else, it was hardly possible to fool one’s fellow human beings. No incorrect conduct remained hidden or was ever forgotten; sometimes even children and grandchildren still had to suffer as a result.

I believe many Templers saw our community life the way I have described it. The undeniable dark side of this life was probably felt in different ways by different people. It was simply a consequence of being a very small group that wanted to preserve its own identity instead of being swallowed up by its social environment. The ability to adapt and to achieve a common consensus were survival factors for the group; self-willed individuals disturbed the peace and were not very popular. The group was constantly under pressure to maintain its boundaries to the outside world. We could certainly be proud of our beautiful settlements and, of course, one could most easily differentiate oneself from others by thinking oneself superior. But there was a hint of pride and self-sufficiency in the communities, which was less than desirable. The almost complete rejection of social contact with other groups led to the sacrifice of interesting human encounters and cultural stimulation.

My father might have been surprised by such ideas. He was forced by his job to travel the length and breadth of the country, to deal with all kinds of people and to work with ships’ crews from all points of the compass. He must have been glad to be able to spend his evenings and his Sundays amongst his own kind. – That is how opinions about life as we knew it differ according to a person’s situation.

Different people attach different interpretations to this story. Did it really happen like this? Is it all symbolic? What is Luke trying to tell us? What do you make of it? – Perhaps you will have a few moments to sit quietly with these images that speak to the soul. They don’t do much for the intellect alone, and possibly weren’t meant to – we pass on information quite differently today, with a different mindset. Which doesn’t mean we can’t get something out of a good, ‘old-fashioned’ story. H.U.

A meeting was held quite far from the earth.
"It’s time again for another birth,"
Said the angels to the Lord above.
"This special child will need much love."

His progress may seem very slow, accomplishments he may never show.
And he will require extra care from the folks he will meet down there.
He may not run nor laugh nor play,
His thoughts may seem quite far away.

In many ways he won’t adapt
And he will be known as "handicapped".
So let’s be careful where he is sent,
We want his life to be content.

Dear Lord, please find the parents
Who will do this special job for you.
They will not realise right away the leading role they’re asked to play.
But with this child sent from above comes stronger faith and richer love.

And soon they will know the privilege given
In caring for this gift from heaven
Their precious charge so meek and mild
Is heaven’s very special Child.

Printed by permission

As our theme for today, we have chosen the topic "What does Religion mean to me?" We have decided to have various speakers presenting a mixture of readings and interpretations based on what we believe the topic to be. There will also be music and a hymn, because these are an important part of our lives.

Kristin and Thomas Walduck – e-mailed from Qld, read by Ingrid

What does religion mean to me? Is it an action I do? Is it an event I go to see? Or is it a belief I have? Religion is a topic that is discussed in many countries worldwide and, amazingly, a common understanding in even one of those countries is hard to come by.

Even dictionaries have trouble agreeing on a specific interpretation of it. Religion is something that is difficult to describe, and is unique and special to each and every individual.

Whatever understanding you actually give to religion, remember that no two people believe in exactly the same thing, thus almost every person will have a different perception of what religion is. So take a moment, now, to think to yourself: "What does religion mean to me?"

Religion: belief in a controlling superhuman power entitled to obedience, reverence and worship. The feeling or spiritual attitude of those recognising such a controlling power. Something regarded as being of great importance or involving moral duty.’ Whether you believe in God and his Ten Commandments or just the fact that the sun rises in the morning, religion is a part of life; it includes everything.

This for my soul, and this other for my body?" Gibran

When the word religion is mentioned, my first thoughts are people who worship God and Jesus, people living in a temple and praying continuously, human beings who wear funny clothes and speak from the Bible.

Over the years, I have learnt that different cultures have different religions and beliefs. Not all humans believe in God and Jesus, but we must also remember that everyone is an individual and has their own beliefs. Here in the Temple Society we have services like this, not every day, but enough to know who we are and what we believe in as a community. To believe in what we want, makes us the people that we are.

I believe religion is one aspect of life on its own. Relationships and love for one another keep life exciting and wondrous. Love for ourselves and love for one another makes us the way we are. The love to live our lives, no matter what happens and how it turns out. We all are different and make mistakes in our lives that must be forgiven, even if it breaks our hearts.

Jesus taught his disciples that love for one another can give us hope and help us lead our lives. It doesn’t matter if we are individuals and are not perfect, Jesus loved us for who we are and we should all love one another and ourselves. Our aspects in life: religion, relationships and love can cure anything. Hope and confidence overrule fear: fear of the end of life, fear for people who suffer and fear to love those who betray us. Jesus sacrificed his life to let us live with respect and make the best out of it. To have fun and enjoy what we believe in, the way we are and to accomplish what we set out to do.

We can live our lives the way we want with our aspects, and the people we love, by our side.

Kyra Megele – ‘On Friendship’ A reading from Gibran

Quotes from Carole Daxter

When I sat down to write this, I realised I had no idea about what I thought this passage meant. It could have been written in Shakespearian language for all I cared, I mean, it made sense, but I didn’t look at the big picture. I found myself translating each sentence into what I thought it meant, but that didn’t get me very far. However, after much thought I came to the conclusion that it means that all of those things, faith, strength and love are inside us. We don’t need to look to other people to find them, we just need to realise that they are there inside us.

Today we are here to talk about what religion means to us. I am only 17. I must admit that I’ve never really thought about what I believe in. I don’t know what I think about God. I don’t know what I think about Jesus. And I don’t know what I think about the Bible. But I do know that to me, religion is simply the Temple Society. It is a group of people that I’ve known since I was a baby. I grew up with the Temple Society, to me it’s not just a ‘church’, and I’m sure that many other people feel that way too.

The love in the Temple Society is unique, in that all the Mums and Dads watch over all the children, not just their own, as though they were second parents.

I remember going to the Family Camps when I was younger; if you’ve ever been to one you may also have noticed the way all the adults watched over you. This is the love that I’m talking about.

I don’t have a godmother or a godfather, and I know that many other people here don’t either. A godmother or father is someone to watch over you, someone to protect you. I have many godparents; they are made up of people in the Temple Society. We all watch over each other, we all support each other.

Could you all please rise and join me in prayer.

Dear Lord,

The Lords Prayer followed.

More of the contributions next time

A kind of New Year’s Eve reflection, sent in by a reader.

by Diane Loomans

The TSA Office will not be fully attended during the Christmas and summer holiday period. We will close on Friday 19^th December and re-open on Thursday 22^nd January 2004. Messages can be left on the answering machine, but be aware that they may not be responded to immediately.

In emergency situations or matters of need, please contact either:

Mark Herrmann – Business Manager

Dr Rolf Beilharz – Regional Head

or Helga Anderson – Community Care Worker

The bereavement line will continue to function during this period.

It is customary at this time of year to look back at the past 12 months and be thankful and appreciative for all that has been achieved in TSA circles. When I do so now, I am acutely mindful of certain personal/professional difficulties I have faced and the tremendous support and encouragement offered by so many to help me counter them. In particular I would like to publicly express my appreciation to my wife (Nanne) and family, Rolf (Beilharz), Susi (Blackwell), Renate and Tony (Beilharz) for their friendship, wonderful assistance and faith in me. Within the Office environs we can all be grateful for the efforts of Rainer Busch and Irma Wesselbaum in helping put certain aspects of my work back on an even keel and making them more manageable.

Within our relatively small Society, but with an apparently burgeoning number of tasks needing attention, we are indeed fortunate to have a considerable quota of members and friends prepared to contribute generously to the workings of the Templer Community in a multitude of ways. We all benefit, and so should be grateful for and acknowledge their continued efforts.

I wish you all a happy festive season and a chance to reflect on the accomplishments of 2003, before we all face up to the fresh challenges awaiting us in 2004.

Mark Herrmann

Thank you to those contributors who regularly get their copy in on time. Please note the January deadline in your diaries, especially if you are on holidays – 18^th January. It is best if you send your articles to the Office as well as the editor.

Ed.

Thus, a majority did not support the motion, and the 2-year trial proposal by the Friends’ Group will not proceed.

Dr. Rolf Beilharz, Regional Head

At our meeting in October, amongst numerous other issues, the Elders discussed the usage of the new community chapel. We know that many churches are open at certain times so that members of the congregation or passers-by may enter and either simply view the church or spend some time inside in silence, prayer or meditation. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our chapel could also be open on a regular basis for members or friends or visitors to drop in?

We feel this would be an important way of reaching out to the community around us and of allowing people to spend time in a special space at a time when it is not being used for a particular service or Templer function.

Ideally we would like the chapel to be open every Sunday from about 10.00am to 11.30am or so. Regularity is important so that chance visitors are not disappointed by a locked door.

The chapel is a beautiful space in which to sit and contemplate. We have not had an opportunity like this before and at first it may not seem like a very Templer-ish thing to do, but I’m sure that I’m not alone in my desire for a greater sense of peace in my everyday life, and some quiet moments in our chapel may be just the thing you’ve been missing.

In order for this suggestion to become reality, we really just need some community help. The task is not onerous. We are asking that you consider giving up a couple of hours on a Sunday morning to be in the chapel to welcome visitors and to ensure that the building is both unlocked and locked up properly in the course of the morning – perhaps 1,2 or 3 times a year?

I think this may be an opportunity for many Templers to contribute to our sense of community and hope very much that you will consider putting your name on the roster for the open chapel concept.

It would be lovely if we could have a hearty number of people responding!

Annette Wagner-Hesse

On 10^th November the TSA hosted members of the Knox Interfaith Group in our Community Chapel – which, incidentally looks lovely by night! A number of visitors expressed how impressed they were. Dr Rolf spoke about the Templers, explaining who we are and why we are here, and questions were asked and answered. It was very interesting to talk with members of the other faith communities over a delicious supper – thanks ladies! Obviously the men and women who come to interfaith forums are the more open-minded people in their congregations. It was good to have them with us. H.U.

On Sunday 2^nd November a cheerful group of some 20 people met for the Gippsland Service at Hapke’s home in Upper Beaconsfield. It was a most pleasant day in beautiful surroundings enjoyed by everyone who came. We also welcomed an overseas visitor, Mrs. Maria Sattler from Germany. Kurt Beilharz delivered the service, followed by lunch to which everyone contributed. The afternoon went by in fellowship and a long walk around the property. Rain and hail were now over, the blackbirds were singing. The time passed all too quickly and it was time to go home. We thank Uli, Brigitte and Peter Hapke for their hospitality and look forward to the next meeting.

Christmas and the holiday season are not far off and it is a busy time for everyone. As we look forward to the festive season and the holidays, I would like to remind particularly our elderly friends to take extra care in the hot weather. Keep cool and don’t forget to drink lots of fluids even if you don’t feel thirsty. This is most important for your health and wellbeing.

For those of you going away, I wish you a safe and relaxing holiday.

Best wishes for a Happy Christmas and New Year.

Helga Anderson, Community Care Worker

Wir gratulieren herzlich zum Geburtstag unserer Mitglieder:

Monique Steller and Peter Hoffmann

NIKITA NIKOLAEVICH ROMANKIN,

Eltern: Nikolai Romankin und Veronika nee Arndt

Parents are invited to have their children presented before God and the Community in the Community Chapel on 12^th October, 10.15 a.m. Please contact the office on 9557 6713 (between 10.00 and 12.00 noon) ASAP for an application form. Ed

Thanks to all the happy shoppers who supported our annual fundraiser. We raised $405 for Playgroup. We hope to see you all again on next year’s tour.

Kris Wennagel

On 26^th July, the Bayswater-Boronia Community had its Volunteer Thankyou afternoon tea. This was the committee’s opportunity to thank the band of helpers who assist at our working bees and make our task so much easier and to provide them with an afternoon tea of scones, jam, cream and rockcakes.

Then, on Sunday 3^rd August, we held our Annual General Meeting. A total of 75 members attended. The meeting ran extremely smoothly with a representative of each group giving an informed report. After the meeting, we were all treated to coffee, tea, scones, rockcakes and cream.

The three retiring members, Manfred Decker, Minnie Haering and Resi Schwarzbauer were re-elected. Elizabeth thanked Peter Blackwell, who unfortunately had to resign from the committee due to work commitments. On the positive side, two younger members, Heinz Vollmer and Petra Murrihy joined the committee.

It is worth mentioning that these two new committee members have already been active in the new community room. If you have not yet seen it, may I urge you to make a point of looking at it when you are at the hall.

For the benefit of those members who live further away, please allow me the opportunity to describe it.

We are now looking at a heating system, so that the room can be nice and cozy in winter. The committee is also looking at drawing up some guidelines for the use of this room.

On Sunday 17^th August another community working bee was held, and

Thanks to the team of willing helpers who came to assist.

Before the Annual General Meeting, we were obliged to send out Proxy forms and Nomination forms, this meant photocopying these documents and then posting them out to all the members.

We had a wonderful attendance on Sunday 3 August 2003, 74 members and 10 proxies. The meeting started with the singing of the Temper hymn verses 1,4,6. It was a happy meeting, and we were especially pleased to welcome our former president of the TS, Dieter Ruff, after illness –welcome!

I presented my report in which I expressed my delight in the refurbished Community Room and thanked all the members who had helped!

It was with regret that the council accepted the resignation of Peter Blackwell and he was thank for his expert knowledge in health matters and for organizing the music for our functions: Sommerfest and Carols by candlelight.

Resi Schwarzbauer – our hardworking secretary was re-elected, as was Manfred Decker, our hardworking delegate to the Community Structure Working Party. Our committee has been able to welcome two new members: Petra Murrihy and Heinz Vollmer jnr. We welcome them with pleasure!

The treasurer, Paul English, presented his report.

Reports on the various activities of our community were presented, all very positive. However all of them would like to see even greater participation!

Kegel Club Manfred Haering

        Ladies Auxiliary Minnie Haering

As there was no new business, the meeting was closed. I thanked our wonderful supportive community, stating that without the members, there would be no community! The members were invited to admire and experience the wonderful refurbished Community Room firsthand, and to think of how they may make use of these excellent facilities. Special thanks again go to Paul English, Tony Beilharz and Manfred Decker – they did a wonderful JOB!

Afternoon tea was served. Everybody enjoyed very much the tea and scones.

We felt at the end of our meeting that the future is there for us – the TSA.

Elisabeth Wagner, Chairperson

Annual Members Meeting Sydney 25/8/2003
After sharing a few thoughts on a verse from the Gospel of John, attending
members, 24 in all, were welcomed to the meeting.

Our annual picnic on 12th October this year will be at the Nurragingy Reserve in the Melaluka section of the park. Bring your families and friends along, there is plenty of room for the kids to play, so bring all your ballgames, bikes etc. and enjoy a good day out.
Our next Saal is on Sunday, 26^th October at 3p.m. with Kurt Beilharz         

Hartmut Beck, for the Sydney Community

Just a reminder that Horst Blaich will join us for the Saal on 26^th October and will present an exhibition about Wilhelma.

The Sydney Ladies Guild cordially invites all Melbournians to join them at their yearly bazaar on the 22^nd November.

Erika Schulz

Rose Asenstorfer

Every couple of months Darkzone Laser in Box Hill have a midnight to Dawn session. The cost of these all-nighters is approximately $20-$30. We will be looking at joining in with one of the public sessions or if we get enough people, booking our own session, early next year. I would like to hear from anyone interested in taking part in one of these sessions so I can get an idea of numbers.

Bentleigh Hall, starting 2.15pm and followed by afternoon tea – please help us out by bringing a cake or plate to share.

We need lots of help with: contributions to the service, afternoon tea, setting up the hall, readings and presenting during the service and of course cleaning up

This is not yet finalized, so more details will be in next month’s Templer Record. I will also send out a copy of the program to everyone at home or on email, so there will be no excuse for not coming along to all our wonderful activities!!

Our whole youth program, from Kids’ Club to post confirmation, desperately needs your help. There are many small and some not so small areas that need people power to continue to function. These are:

This is just a very broad outline and within these areas there are lots of smaller tasks which people need to volunteer to take on. Without this volunteer help, we will not be able to get an adequate youth program up and running and whether we like it or not, our youth is our future – please help me invest in it!

Summer Camp 2004 will again be held at the Phillip Island YCW Holiday Camp from Friday 9^th to Friday 16^th January 2004. All children aged 11 years to Confirmation are welcome and encouraged to come along. You can also bring a friend or three!

Susi Blackwell,Youth Coordinator

HEY DUDES AND DUDETTES (have to be politically correct these days!!)

Hope everyone has been having a splendiferous September, although it really is a strange month. Some days it’s so nice that I start making plans for summer and all the stuff I'm going to do, and other days it’s all I can do to get up and go to uni cos it’s so damn cold! (Sometimes my bed wins. Clayton on a cold and windy day is about as appetising as brussels sprouts!)

I'm just recovering from a most awesome night out on Thursday – I went to the Monash Science Ball with a bunch of friends. There's something about good friends, good wine, sexy dresses and good music that makes for a funky night. Feeling a little worse for wear though on Friday. Might have something to do with the fact that I got home at 5am.) The point of this little story (yes it does actually have a point) was just me thinking about how important your friends are. It wouldn't have been half the night that it was if my good friends hadn't been there. I figure you're pretty lucky if you can count the number of good friends you have on one hand. It's worth thinking about anyway.

Despite the fact that Emma and I have finished school, I know I certainly haven't forgotten the stresses at this time of year for people in Year 12, so just a quick note of good luck to them – hang in there, life gets so much better after school!!

Okay, we'll love you and leave you now! Have a great month,

Luv Tania and Emma

Can you believe it, it is already spring. And last Sunday was Father’s Day. I hope you spoilt your dad. He is always there to look after you, isn’t he. Our next story is about God taking care of you, too.

Old men went to see Jesus. Children went to see Jesus. Young men and women, mothers and fathers went to see Jesus. Happy people, sad people, well people, sick people went to see Jesus. They all wanted to here what Jesus said.

Jesus saw the people coming, so he went up the side of a mountain. He sat down. "Look at the birds, they do not have barns to store their food, but God feeds them. And look at the flowers. They do not make clothes to wear but God has dressed them in beautiful clothes," said Jesus.

"You are more important than the birds and flowers. So do not worry. If God takes care of them, he will take care of you."

Son to father: "Instead of buying me a birthday present, why don’t you give me something you made yourself, like money?"

Why was the Egyptian child so confused?
His daddy was a mummy.

"What’s on the television tonight, son?"
"Same as usual, Dad, the goldfish bowl and lamp."

1^st boy: My dad’s played at the MCG lots of times.
2^nd boy: I didn’t know your dad was a footballer.
1^st boy: He isn’t. He plays in the band that comes on the field before the match starts.

Till next month, Moni Imberger

TTHA Management Committee

It is happening! We will soon be able to move into our new Otto Loebert Home. You may believe it this time. The room allocation is (almost) complete, allowing for relocations early in October. The new rooms are bright and very friendly.

Presently 42 beds are allocated to the TSA, and 40 to the AGWS. However, with the completion of the new building, we have two additional beds (rooms) dedicated for respite needs. (These two beds will have to be funded by TTHA as they will not qualify for government subsidies.) However, it will balance the bed allocation.

Donations received since we started our "Otto Loebert Home campaign" in June total $133,667. Is this not wonderful? It is very generous! However, further donations are, as always, still very welcome to swell this figure. We are particularly thankful for donations received via the AGWS amounting to $8,500.We herewith sincerely thank all our donors for their generosity.

Invitation to Annual General Meeting

Spring has arrived. Flowers are already abundant in gardens and fields. And yet, we are hopeful that many of our TTHA friends will attend our Annual General Meeting on Saturday 11^th October, at 11 a.m. in the Bayswater Hall. You will be informed of our financial situation as at the end of June as well as future plans.

This meeting is not only for TTHA dwellers, but includes 24 Unit dwellers. (These are incorporated in the Retirement Villages Act.) We look forward to welcoming you.

Friedrich Sawatzky, President,

TTHA Management Committee

Parents are invited to have their children presented before God and the Community in the Community Chapel on 12^th October, 10.15 a.m. Please contact the office on 9557 6713 (between 10.00 and 12.00 noon) asap for an application form.

Ed

The venue for the next meeting is Trinity Grammar’s Camp (Leppitt Outdoor Centre) at Lake Eppalock. Directions to the venue can be obtained from the office or from Linda Beilharz.

Soup will be provided. There are barbecue facilities and ovens for warming – bring something to share. We look forward to seeing you there.

Linda Beilharz

We are situated at 92 St Georges Road, Upper Beaconsfield, Melway ref 210 D10.

We have good shelter in our gazebo and provide tea and coffee. Please bring a plate to share and your own utensils. There is an extensive network of tracks up and down on our 2.5 acre property, a lake and lots of productive gardens interspersed and surrounded by ornamental trees and bushland.

All welcome Brigitte, Uli and Peter Hapke

Saturday 4^th October: Sarona History with Horst Blaich.

Sunday 19^th October: Music Program with Juliette and Geraldine Hughes.

Also a reminder for those who haven’t paid their fees; they are due now.

Hella Edelmaier, Secretary

Our ladies singing group will commence practices on Monday, 13^th October at 8pm in the Bentleigh Hall. Please consider joining in even if you have not had much experience singing. We welcome new faces and always have a lot of fun.

We would also like to remind everyone that we need your help to make this afternoon a success. The bazaar is always special. To ensure it remains so, we need many people to contribute handicrafts. We would like to collect Gutsle (cookies) for packing again this year. Details re: food packaging requirements will appear in next month's TR. You may deliver Gutsle to the office in Bentleigh or after hours to Nanne Herrmann, 25 Catherine Rd, Bentleigh East. We will also need helpers to set up, serve coffee and tidy up. Please start thinking about how you can help.

Annette and Veronica

The next meeting will be on the 21^st October in the newly refurbished community room of the Bayswater Hall. Ursula Klink will speak, in German, about a historic charcoal kiln in Kurth Kiln Park north of Gembrook, and how participation in a small volunteer group can give a fresh focus to a lifestyle in retirement.

With lots of pictures and stories Ursula will tell of their involvement in the restoration/conservation of the kiln and its picturesque environment. This kiln is the only visible reminder left of the pioneering work Professor Ernst Kurth did with research into charcoal as an alternative fuel for transport.

Start13:30, everyone is welcome, Heidi Vollmer, for the Ba-Bo Ladies Group

Everyone is cordially invited to the Youth Service and community afternoon on Sunday 26^th October at 2.15p.m. Please bring a cake to share.

The following ladies are rostered to assist on the day and are asked to be at the hall by 1.45p.m. to set up. Please contact me if you are unable to help:

Nellie Gabron, Rita Grubb, Ruth Haar, Rose Hahn, Dolly Holly, Erika Hackel, Trudy Herrmann, Marianne Herrmann, Hildegard Hoffmann, Renate Hoffmann

Helga Anderson

Saturday October 11^th George Bass Coastal Walk Revegetation

‘Tranceplant’ invites you to a day of planting along the George Bass Coastal Walking Trail, and on adjacent farmland. The Trail links the spectacular cliffs and secluded beaches along the wild and windswept coastline between San Remo and Kilcunda (near Phillip Island). Unfortunately most of the original vegetation has long been cleared, but regular community tree planting in recent years is slowly revitalising this landscape.

The Powlett Landcare Project invites you to a planting day in the Archies Creek Valley of Southwest Gippsland, to assist in the connective revegetation of wildlife corridors along the Archies Creek. This further planting on the property of Geoff Owens will build on the fantastic works done through the Archies Creek Reafforestation Group over the last 14 years. This will be the final major community planting undertaken this season through the Powlett Project and we would really welcome your participation.

Please contact Paul Haar if you’d like to come along and ‘make a difference’ on either of these occasions.

Tree planting is not hard yakka – a great activity for kids of all ages, as well as for elderly people who don’t mind walking up and down hills a bit.

After 3pm on the 26^th October, Paul will be especially happy to lead anyone interested on a walk through variously aged planting sites in the Archies Creek Valley, to witness the prompt, impressive and on-going role that nature plays in restoring ecological balance, following community based reafforestation activity.

Paul Haar

The Ba-Bo Advent celebration is on 9th December 2003. Please put this date in your diary. Everyone welcome! Elisabeth Wagner

It was a nice sunny day in Melbourne as we – Manfred Haering, Helmut Glenk, Irene and Horst Blaich – arrived at Charlotte Laemmle-Ruff’s house in Brighton. As we entered the neatly kept and decorated house Charlotte welcomed us with her usual friendly smile. We were led into the dining room where she had laid out her family albums, all neatly arranged in subject and family. What a treasure, what a surprise.

This was not the only surprise for us; Charlotte led us through the kitchen into the brightly lit family room where, behold, there was another surprise. To our astonishment a table tennis table was full of their family heirlooms, old books, certificates, old Turkish land titles, documents, driver’s licenses, passports, old gadgets like kitchen utensils, knitting and embroideries back to grandmother’s time and remarkably even some old coins with Arabic-Turkish writings. We stood there speechless, astonished by the enormous old historical collection any Historic Society would wish to have at their disposal for display.

Charlotte’s family collection took years to put together and even though most of the items went through one or two world wars, they were preserved and laid out before us. Thanks to the Laemmle and Groll families’ foresight, these items have been preserved in excellent conditions and will be seen in the future on the ‘TSA Heritage Group’ computer data base.

What a welcome to the treasures on the large table in Charlotte’s home in Brighton. The doorbell rang and Mrs. Agnes Laemmle, Charlotte’s mother, arrived to be interviewed by Helmut. Soon the tape recorder and the video camera were rolling along, the old stories from Sarona surfaced and Mrs. Laemmle’s revealing and interesting conversation was recorded and should soon be published.

In the meantime Horst photographed the items on the table with his digital camera. What treasures there were; we admired them for hours.

We had a wonderful enjoyable day together, and we like to thank Charlotte Laemmle-Ruff and her mother for the opportunity to view their collection and photographs… their long-kept treasures.

For some time a few people have sat together and planned what a ‘TSA Heritage Group’ needs to have and do to satisfy the demand put on various individuals who unofficially are working to satisfy the Sarona Restoration Project and the TS Heritage questions in general.

A proposal of creating a ‘TSA Heritage Group’ was put before Dr. Rolf Beilharz, Mark Herrmann, and Renate Beilharz on Wednesday 27^th August 2003. The proposal was accepted and ratified by the entire TSA Regional Council meeting on Friday 5^th September 2003.

Once again thank you to all the persons who have contacted us with additional information and personal anecdotes and experiences of Sarona. During one of our recent discussions with a former Saronian we were advised that there were two Sarona Lieder. The lyrics and music for both these songs were written by Carl Kuebler, the first one in 1919/20 (whilst interned at Sidi Bishr, Egypt) and the second in 1942.

We have a copy (music and lyrics) of the 1942 song but only the words (from memory) of the last verse of the 1920 song. We appeal to anyone who may have a copy of the 1920 song to please contact us.

From the Schumann Institute, University of Haifa, Israel, we were recently advised that Tel Aviv has now received recognition by UNESCO as a site of worldwide importance in architectural aspects. The restoration of buildings in Sarona is one of the significant preservation projects in the City of Tel Aviv at present.

We have been pleasantly surprised by the amount of information, including photographs, which we have been able to obtain. It is a huge task to now analyse and document this treasure of information. We have been working on the documentation for some time now. It is our aim to produce an authoritative book on Sarona at the end of this project. We therefore advise that the information collecting phase of our project will finish at the end of October 2003. (Naturally we won’t turn down any further information that comes to hand after that date.) After that date, however, we will be concentrating on finalising the Sarona Story. If anyone has any additional matters that they may wish to bring to our attention please do so during the next month. Our contact details are:

Helmut Glenk on behalf of the Project Team

The spring season of events planned for the hall commenced with Horst Blaich giving a stimulating visual and oral presentation on the Templer colony ‘Wilhelma’, based on his extensive collection of historical photographs and on his ‘100 years Wilhelma’ photographic exhibition that was also displayed around the perimeter of the hall.

The hall was filled to capacity and the presentation ran well over time, so strong was the interest from the audience. The Wilhelma song was then sung to the accompaniment of Irene Blaich on the piano. Olga Kroh’s recollections of life in Wilhelma were followed by a session of questions and answers. Finally coffee and cakes were served, with the audience breaking into small discussion groups some of which were still going strong even after the clean up had started. We received $230 in donations towards the refurbishment of the hall for which we are very grateful.

The following heritage and cultural events will take place during October in the Boronia Hall.

LOCATION: Boronia Templer Church Hall,

Wadi St, Boronia (Melway Ref: Map 64 J-11):

Heritage - 2

Coffee and cakes will be available.

Culture - 2

Entry: $5 (includes coffee and cake)

After the success of last month’s music program, Juliette Hughes and Geraldine Hughes will again present a series of musical vocal pieces from various composers.

All are welcome.

If you are a young Templer who plays a musical instrument (or sings) or you have a young non-Templer friend who does, then we would like to hear from you.

We are looking for up-and-coming-talent, capable of playing one or two of their favourite songs reasonably well (air guitar doesn’t count), and who would be happy to perform in a small venue in front of an appreciative audience of fifty or so.

The event will be held on Saturday 15^th November at 2pm in the Boronia Hall, and you are of course welcome to bring along your friends for support.

So give it some thought and let us know, so that we can get a better idea of ‘what’s out there’.

Tagore

A time to press forward energetically and a time to rest. In spring we see the culmination of much quiet growing in secret. Apparently useless ‘hibernating’ days, too, are necessary for seeds and projects to come to fruition. The gradual, unseen growth and development of seeds, ideas and human enlightenment feature in this issue.

Rest days can be life-savers (see page 10). But days of enforced inactivity can be very hard to bear. So often we resist surrendering to higher wisdom, to ‘the hands that hold every moment of our lives.’

Eckhart Tolle

What candles can tell us

Welcome to today’s service in our beautiful Chapel. I would like to do a little experiment with the children, who are with us for the first part of the service. I have a number of candles here and I am going to ask a few of you to help me light them. We will use just one match and then light all the candles from each other. Let us put these candles around the stage area.

First of all: did any candle lose anything by lighting another one? No! Do the candles all radiate the same amount of light, even though they are of different size? Yes! I think they do. So what can we learn from that? It does not matter how big or how small the candle is, the light it radiates is the same.

Now let us think about which candle we can see the best. Which candle can the people in the back rows see? Hopefully they can see the candles on the stand, the ones that are higher up.

Now we shall do one more experiment. I have a bowl here; let us place that over one of the candles. What has happened? The light cannot be seen, can it? Is the light still shining under the bowl? Let us read the text for today and see where these experiments are leading us.

The text comes from the Gospel according to Matthew. In this Gospel we see Jesus as the Teacher. The text is part of the Sermon on the Mount, in which Jesus is giving us instructions on how to live our life as citizens in God’s kingdom. He tells us that he wants us to do all that God wants us to do. For us as Templers that means to love God with all our being and to love our neighbour as we love ourselves, in other words: we do the right thing and treat others as we want them to treat us.

This is a very important message for us as Christians and as Templers. In this text we are being told to radiate our light before the people. We are being asked to show off! That does not happen often, does it? Far too often we hide our "light", our talents, our beliefs, our gifts under the proverbial bushel or bowl because we are embarrassed or because we feel that society tells us that we should not grandstand, we should be humble. But here is a message from Jesus that tells us to put our light out there, preferably in a high place where the light can radiate out to many. By our actions and behaviour we are to "enlighten" the world.

The little song we have sung ("Brighten the corner where you are") tells us Jesus’ message for today. We do not need to wait until we are great or important; rather it is really essential to always be a shining example. We sang that we do not have to reach out to the masses to share our light, if we share our inner light, our heart light, with just one person we have succeeded in our quest to make the world a better place. So always remember: no matter where you are or what you are doing, let your Christ light, your heart light shine!

By giving light, love, courtesy to someone else you lose none of your brightness and you are an individual Temple in which the spirit of God dwells. When we all stand and shine our radiance outwards, look at the light we can radiate out to the world, for all to see.

I shall ask someone from our congregation to light another candle for our present-day members. Who are we? We are what we are today because of the pioneering spirit and beliefs of our founders and those who followed. We are a small community of like-minded people; presently we still try to shine our light into a progressively murkier world. We do try to make the world a better place for ourselves and for those with whom we come in contact.

We are a society which continues to move with the times in the framework set out by Jesus. Our cross on the wall is specifically designed to express our hope and openness. Significantly all sides of the "T" are open, even the top line is open to signify our openness to the transcendent dimension as well as to our fellow human beings.

In our 143^rd year of existence we face some big challenges. Our membership does not seem to increase. Many of our younger generation do not seem to feel the need to join the Temple Society; nothing seems as certain as it was in our parents’ and grandparents’ time. A lot of traditions of the past, such as marriage or going to Sunday Service with your parents, seem unnecessary to our youth. There are so many demands on our time, we do not create our own entertainment as much, we like constant stimulation from music or television, and our attention span to one idea or activity seems much shorter.

We now have three candles burning with special meanings. One light represents us, the individual. It is up to each one of us to put in and be involved in where we want the Temple Society to be in the future. The second candle represents our family. It is much easier und feels safer to interact positively with people we know really well. The third light can then represent our Community, our Society. The three lights together are shining more brightly than just one. Our focus changes, but as a group of people I hope we continue to be at the top of the hill, as Jesus’ disciples, to shine out and live by example our very simple approach to life on this earth: Set your mind on God’s kingdom and his justice before all else. Love God with all your being and love your neighbour as yourself.

Let us pray: Dear God, we thank you for this day when we can come together in fellowship, trust and faith to celebrate our past, acknowledge our being here now, and to look towards a continuing positive future for us, our children and grandchildren in a safe and just world. Today, help us to reaffirm your message that we strive to be fair and honest in our dealings with all people, that we are tolerant of the faults of others, that we stretch out a hand of assistance and friendship to those less fortunate than we are, that we share the bounty we have with those around us. Let us be shining lights to spread Jesus’ message, encourage us to come out from under the bowl. Let us not be discouraged into feeling it does not matter what we do because we are just one. Bless each and every one of us, so that we can share our special gift or talent or ability in the love for our fellow man and for the earth which nurtures us in our daily life. Bless our families and our community and help us lead by example. Let us pray the Lord’s Prayer together: Our father in heaven …

You are encouraged to read the whole text.

One of the Jewish leaders, the Pharisee Nicodemus, comes to Jesus by night, intrigued by this ‘different’ thinker. He is confronted by being told ‘unless one is born anew, one cannot see the kingdom of God’ and later ‘ unless one is born of water and the spirit’. The spirit is likened to the wind that blows where it will; one cannot see it, but one can experience its effect.

This sounds like heavy stuff, even ridiculous to down-to-earth, rational minds. As it does to Nicodemus, an intelligent, well-educated man. Jesus says to him, ‘You are a teacher of Israel, yet you do not understand this?’

No, because intelligence and reason alone, as valuable and useful as they are, do not allow one to see the inner, spiritual, invisible domain. (Nicodemus comes by night, he’s ‘in the dark’ as far as this area is concerned). One needs a different way of seeing (‘with eyes to see and ears to hear’) to perceive the not readily visible, and that, to my mind, is what being ‘born anew’ is about: changing one’s way of thinking, expanding it to allow the artistic, imaginative, creative, the non-rational to also offer meaning and depth. ‘Water’ is the traditional symbol for psyche and soul.

John the Baptist, foreshadowing ‘the one who is to come’, already challenged people to change their ways; this is traditionally rendered by ‘repent’. But the Greek word metanoia can also be understood as seeing beyond (meta) current knowledge (noia, nous), seeing with expanded consciousness.

Our social environment, media and schools don’t foster deeper knowledge or true wisdom. In fact, the Western ‘progress through consumption’ mentality has brought our world to the brink of ecological and humanitarian disaster. As in Jesus’ time, a new way of thinking beyond present paradigms, a being ‘born anew’ is also urgently required today. Seeing beyond personal or local interests to how everything is interconnected and depends on everything else and having faith that, if we do the right thing, this will help the whole – I would call that part of the ‘kingdom of God’ expanded consciousness.

Another aspect of it is not oppressing or excluding others for whatever reason. Many ‘pillars of society’ have trouble with this; we, too? There will always be differences of opinions and arguments, but let us never forget that the other is also a member of our human family, with just as much right to be who he is. The Anglicans are currently agonising over this. A readiness to be reconciled; seeking win/win solutions as much as is possible, saying no to violence – changing one’s attitude in these directions also helps ‘your kingdom come’.

Jesus and other wise men sowed the seed long ago. It has grown in secret and is still not widely understood and realized. But slowly more humane ways of thinking are being born in many societies. The tiny ‘mustard seed of the kingdom’ has grown and will help the expanded consciousness of the ‘kingdom of God’ to take hold –

Will you do your bit to help this come about? – And blessings on the many of you who already live by these precepts: may the Force continue to be with you and give you joy! Herta Uhlherr, Elder

Sunday 24. 8. 41. Disembarkation in Sydney. A ferry took us from the Queen Elizabeth to the railway station [at Darling Harbour, on the other side of the Bridge]. On the ferry every man was issued with an ex-army great-coat dyed red, also with the number of their railway carriage, to avoid jostling for space. This had been organised by the internees and worked very well. Walking from the ferry to the train we were filmed, probably for a newsreel. As on the ship, contact with the Australians was friendly. We were glad to be rid of the Jewish auxiliary police with their loud yelling.

There were enough 1^st and 2^nd class carriages for everyone to have a comfortable, padded seat. The journey through Sydney began at 11a.m. People in the streets wore their Sunday best and everyone waved cheerfully to us. We remarked on the many small family homes, each with its little garden. Many houses were painted very brightly, so the whole picture was colourful. People waved to us from the houses, too.

12.50 Campbelltown, 13.30 Bargo, 14.30 Bowral, 15.00 Moss Vale, 16.45 Goulbourn, 18.30 Yass Junction, midnight Junee. On all stations the people were friendly. In Yass Junction, a policeman on duty had been in Sarona in the previous war. He had happy memories of his time there and wished us a good journey.

25. 8. 41. Arrival at 7a.m. in Berrigan. We had all been given a woollen blanket for the night and had been well looked after with food. This was handed to us in clean, appetising packages by well-dressed Australian ladies from the best social circles. We had journeyed through the night and had even slept a little, the padded seats being much more comfortable than the 3^rd (wooden) class in Palestine and Egypt.

At 8.30am we arrived in Tocumwal on the Victorian border. Although the Australian states are federated, their railway gauges are not all the same and we had to change into Victorian trains. When we arrived in Shepparton at 11.00, a hot lunch awaited us (sausages and mashed potato, children got cooked carrots). We were also able to stretch our legs a little on the platform.

Travelling on, we reached our last station, [Hammond siding, near] Rushworth, at 13.15. Buses for women and children and trucks for men and older boys stood ready. After ~12km we were at Tatura, once again behind barbed wire, in Camp 3, which has four compounds, each holding ~280 people in corrugated iron barracks. The younger single men are accommodated in tents.

The food is really good and also that it’s a family camp. We have had to put the clock forward 7 hours, the time difference to Palestine summer time.

From Lydda, the journey took 24 ½ days: 3 days and 1 hour by land, 15 days and 1 hour by sea and 6 days and 10 hours in harbours.

September 1941

It has come to light that some other people have this diary, too. It appears that the original source generously allowed others to copy the notes, which some did, with only slight variations. Ed

Note:

The Holy Land Called, The Story of the Temple Society, Paul Sauer, TSA 1991, also describes the Templers’ arrival in Australia on page 237 f.

The Story of the Beilharz Family, 1988 revised, English edition of Paul Sauer’s Beilharz Chronik; pp 200-204 contain pictures from the August 1941 Cinesound Newsreel of the Templers’ disembarkation.

Both books are available for sale, the first from the Office at $38.50 (incl. GST), the second from Kurt Beilharz (Tel. 9729 9147) or the Office at the bargain price of $11(incl. GST).

I have great difficulty buying comfortable shoes. They feel OK in the shop, but after wearing them for less than half a day, I regret buying those shoes, and slip my feet longingly into the old worn-in, now scruffy looking pair. However, I continue to wear the shoes for longer and longer periods of time, putting up with the inconvenience and pain. I put up with the newness of the shoes because I know that, if I am patient, they should become comfortable and end up being my ‘favourite’ shoes.

This is exactly how I approached the new chapel in Bayswater. In October 2002, when I had access to the building, I felt awkward and out of place. I didn’t feel comfortable – it seemed an architect’s building, uninviting – not a ‘people building’. It felt like a new pair of shoes. I liked the building, but didn’t feel comfortable in it. But I knew that over time the chapel would start feeling like a worn-in pair of shoes to me.

As I attend more and more activities in the chapel, I am becoming comfortable in the space and am learning to love it more and more. It is the use by people, in a variety of ways, that is creating a familiar environment to me. In my mind it is being ‘worn-in’ by the community.

I have always liked the windows that open on to our grounds, through which I have observed the seasons over the year – those square windows are delightful portraits of our ever-changing natural environment. I love the Sunday School area where children are seen as a part of the community, even if they have their own activities. I really appreciate the motto on the wall, a constant reminder for me why I am a member of the Temple Society.

Of course, there are always improvements to be considered. Practical issues such as sound, lighting, the shape of the lectern, when best to turn on the heating, are all still to be resolved. The use of the display area in the foyer can be developed. There is a project focussing on a wall-hanging being worked on by an energetic group.

I am sure that as I make more use of the space, the chapel will no longer feel like a new pair of shoes to me when I walk in, and I hope that others will have the same experience as I.

Renate Beilharz

In keeping with Clause 12 of the Constitution all members of the Temple Society Australia are herewith invited to attend an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting to be held in the Templer Hall at 41a Elizabeth Street, Bayswater, Victoria on Saturday 22^nd November 2003 commencing at 2:00 pm. Members unable to attend the meeting personally are invited to arrange for their representation by proxy. Each member cannot submit more than one proxy form for him/herself. Specific proxy forms for all TSA members are enclosed with this Templer Record and, given the extra-ordinary general meeting quorum requirement, will also be sent together with the Friends’ Group proposal.

Agenda

Enclosed with this issue of the Templer Record you will find a copy of the TSA’s Privacy Policy, formulated around the National and Health Privacy Principles and consistent with the way we collect, use, disclose and access members’ personal information.

Please note that, while the Government Privacy Legislation is new, our Office methods have not needed to change. Naturally, as always with the introduction of Government measures, there is more paperwork involved, but we envisage life in the TSA to continue as before. However, various forms and processes will need to be adapted, ensuring members’ individual preferences with regard to privacy are respected.

Given the personal and some sensitive information we hold – members’ details, financial particulars (for Central Fund borrowers and depositors), medical details (for camp/activity participants and Care Worker files) – there is no doubt the legislation is applicable to our operations. This Privacy Policy, together with the associated procedures and documentation, ensures our compliance under the Federal and State legislation.

The Annual General Assembly on 5^th October in Bayswater approved the suggested membership contributions and other subscription rates for the 2003/2004 financial year, as proposed in the previously distributed Administration Budget. The usual payment form (tax invoice, dated 1 November 2003) is enclosed with this issue of the Templer Record.

Payments by cash, cheque, direct deposit or credit card (see important notice below) are welcome.

To help offset the bank’s merchant fee charged to us on all credit card transactions, the Regional Council has endorsed the application of a credit card fee from 1 November 2003. This means that any payments made to the Office (including contributions, subscriptions, camps, donations etc) by credit card will attract a fee of an additional 2% on the transaction total. For example, a member making a family membership contribution of $264 (including GST) together with a donation of $36 by credit card will cost them $306 (that is, $300 transaction total plus an extra 2%).

Please be aware that direct payment to the TSA Administration banking account with the Commonwealth Bank is also possible.

Users of this facility must ensure that their deposit is easily identifiable.

Mark Herrmann

The December/January issue of the Templer Record traditionally contains a list of members and friends extending Christmas and New Year’s greetings to all readers.

If you wish to be on the list, please notify the TSA Office by Friday 21^st November, including a $2 "donation" to cover the cost of printing.

To avoid some problems encountered in previous years, please make all arrangements through the Office only.

We are grateful for Hulda and Erica Wagner’s help with editing the TR last month. Thank you!

Dear Friends,

Care is not a topic that is widely discussed. We are all carers. At some time in our lives we will be caring for other people from infancy to old age. As a carer, taking care of yourself is often your last priority. So much of the carers’ time is spent caring that little or no time at all is left to consider their own needs, look after their own health and welfare, or maintain friendships.

Despite the many stresses you might experience in your caring role, you may find it difficult to think about your own needs. We can have strong beliefs that come from our educational or cultural background or from the kind of relationships we have, and the expectations and commitments that arise from them. You may find it difficult to accept the need to re-think some of your beliefs and values. Yet these may be contributing to your stress. It will need continued reflection when you have a quiet moment and may well mean letting go of old ways of thinking, if you are to survive and thrive.

To consider the impact caring has on your life at present is not selfish or self-centred. It makes good sense. Providing care to another person is a commitment of time and energy that benefits not only the person being cared for but the whole community. Looking after yourself, taking a break and attending to your needs is your insurance for the future to ensure that you will be able to continue in the many roles you have.

To help carers, the Tabulam and Templer Homes run an Activities Program for senior members of the German-speaking community, where the persons being cared for can be looked after for a few hours, giving the carer some free time and the peace of mind that their loved one is adequately looked after.

For further information, ring Krista or Erica.

Best wishes to our sick and infirm friends. Helga Anderson, Care Worker

Most of you will know of the TSA’s connection with the Glen Eira Ministers Association and that we have taken part in several Ecumenical Meetings in the Bentleigh area. In line with the TSA’s plans to reach out and cultivate greater interaction with the wider community around us, we have now also joined the Knox Inter-Faith Network and participate in its activities.

This organisation of local religious groups was formed in 2002 to "...encourage proper understanding amongst religious communities in Knox so they may be good neighbours... to provide opportunities for dialogue and understanding... to produce and distribute informative literature on religious organisations and practices... to arrange for tours to places of worship in the City of Knox with explanations by those responsible for such facilities."

Regular meetings take place in the Knox Civic Centre, Burwood Hwy Wantirna, on the first Monday of each second month, in which one of the participating groups gives a short presentation highlighting its religious philosophy, its background and its current activities within Knox. Interspersed on the alternate months are visits to the respective group’s religious facilities to complement and round-off the presentation given the previous month.

In October it was the Temple Society Australia’s turn at the meeting. Renate Beilharz, Mark Herrmann, Kurt Beilharz and myself attended. After the opening reading by Renate Beilharz from Matthew 6 (which contains our Leitwort ...set your mind on the Kingdom of God and his justice before everything else...) Mark Herrmann and Renate alternated in giving the context of the Templer Religious Philosophy Statement (the gold booklet), with Kurt Beilharz and myself filling in some of the historic background. The session was well received and, including questions and answers, lasted for about 45 minutes.

Following the religious session, more general organisation business and other items of interest are discussed, to keep members abreast of developments and to share new ideas. The visit to the TSA Chapel in Bayswater was arranged for 10^th November at 8pm.

These bi-monthly meeting are very informative. The personal contact has given me a better grasp of the beliefs and activities of the groups within Knox, such as the Uniting Church last month, the Islamic group before that, and I am looking forward to the Sikh Community’s presentation on 1^st December. Observers are welcome at the meetings and will be allowed to contribute at the discretion of the chairperson.

We hope you can come to the TSA presentation of our Chapel to the Network Group on 10^th November. It should be an interesting evening and it would be nice to have a show of support from our community for the aims of the Network.

Alfred Klink

Wir gratulieren herzlich zum Geburtstag unserer Mitglieder:

Oscar Charlie Rose

Third grandchild of Werner and Annemarie Ehmann

Oscar David Turner

Second grandchild of Harry and Gerlinde Slip

First grandchild for Horst and Hildegard Orth

Daniel Vollmer

Nebenher spiele ich noch Klavier, reite und habe einen Tauchschein. Mein Fahrrad habe ich auch mit nach Australien gebracht.

Straight after he arrived, Timon was roped into the TTHA Wedding Spectacular, appearing with various brides in vintage wedding gear. He looked stunning, but also a bit stunned – so many ‘wives’ within a couple of days of starting work here!

Timon did the ‘Round the Bay Bike Ride’ (210km) on 19^th October with Mark Herrmann – a big effort in the rain. They came across Thomas Gengen-bach, too.

We welcome Timon to Melbourne and encourage members to contact him (at TTHA).

Ed.

We enjoyed our afternoon tea under the tall, leafy trees and in the pretty little church, with much hand-shaking, back slapping and hugging – we had not seen some of those present for such a long while! Quite some time later we returned to the motel to rest and get ready for the evening.

Between courses, Hartmut Beck read out the names of friends who have passed away since our last meeting in Echuca five years ago. He then read a lengthy poem describing life in Tatura. Others added little anecdotes regarding camp life. Professor Hans gave a short dissertation on the Coriolis effect on kite strings. Very late in the evening we started singing, with gusto and great merriment, our old popular folksongs, helped by our little blue booklets, with lively piano accompaniment by Elisabeth Wagner. Hans and Hanni even attempted some ballroom dancing. Tired and happy we walked the 200 metres back to our motel.

We thank the organising committee, which consisted of Hartmut Beck, Hanni Steller, Nella Kruck and Rolf Beck for their tremendous effort!

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Inky and Heinz Arndt

Sunday: Sunday morning September 21^st began for most of the revellers as it had ended the previous evening, namely with food, drink and merriment. Indeed, food, drink and laughter seemed to be major themes of the reunion, no doubt in appreciation of the wonderfully generous efforts of our hard working Sydney hosts. A quick walk from the breakfast tables to the Halle was followed by more sharing of times past, expressions of concern about Sydney’s unpredictable weather – coming from our south-of-the-border guests, this was particularly galling – and, finally, a relatively dignified rush to see who could gain the best seats on the bus.

The coach set off towards our Darling Harbour destination with a complement of nearly forty happy campers. Our cheerful guide demonstrated quite quickly that, while he was a competent driver, his grasp of convict history, Sydney’s development, both past and present, as well as more general social, economic and political issues was less than assured. Still, he wanted us to have a good time and in this he had no difficulties.

After a brief stop at Pyrmont Point Park with, inevitably, more Kaffee und Kuchen, we were driven to Cockle Bay (Darling Harbour). From here we looked across the water to an area, now taken up by Darling Harbour Harbourside, where in 1941 so many Templers landed and, with Kind und Kegel, clambered aboard the train for that fateful journey south to internment at Tatura [see also page 6]. No doubt they were in a much more sober mood than we who were about to embark on our harbour cruise.

At this point the photo opportunities were too good to ignore. In birth groups arranged in 1937, 1938, 1939 lots, as well as other groupings, the cameras were kept busy and the laughter kept coming. Once on board we were quickly underway and, predictably, we were invited to enjoy a smorgasbord lunch. Given our weekend consumption of food and drink, it was comforting to know that Gerhard Wagner was on board. Fortunately his cardiology skills were not required.

Our trip took us to Sydney Heads where, as we turned for home, a gentle sea swell provided a little thrill. A brief stop at Circular Quay allowed Gerhard and Elizabeth to disembark and catch a train for the airport. The rest of us returned to Darling Harbour and the bus brought us safely home to Meadowbank. Believe it or not, we then learned that Hartmut Beck and his little band had set up the tables for a final and very tasty repast of the previous night’s left-overs. Some twenty-one highly satisfied but tired reunionists enjoyed each others’ company over dinner until it was, sadly, time to say and sing fond farewells and to prepare ourselves for a cholesterol and weight reduction regime.

A measure of the success of this reunion was revealed when a vote was taken unanimously favouring a reunion in Melbourne in three years’ time, not the usual five years. Gerhard Weller

On the Monday, more Sydney members gathered for the Sarona presentation by Manfred Haering, see below. Herta Uhlherr

SARONA DAY in Sydney Manfred Haering, for the Sarona Project Team.

On Monday 21^st September, the day after the Reunion in Sydney, a number of ex-Saronians had organized a Sarona get-together with me at the Gemeinde Church. Some 25 people, not all former Saronians, arrived carrying plates of food for this gathering, I was pleasantly surprised, as I had assumed there might be just a good handfull of people there. I had set up a laptop and a few documents and plans of Sarona. The Sydney members were most interested in what Horst Blaich, Helmut Glenk, and I have so far achieved on the Sarona Project.

How often are we lucky enough to experience the ‘perfect happening’? I feel that I was lucky to be there when it happened on Sunday 12^th October in Bayswater.

The morning was fresh but sunny, and as I walked into the Chapel the sun had just broken through its cloud-cover, bathing everything in light. The blue irises, the main colour in the floral arrangements, looked stunning against the white background.

So it was with a happy heart that I was able to welcome our community to this family celebration. And they did come! Family and friends from far and near arrived in good time to be present at this important day for these three beautiful babies and their parents: the presentation of these precious little bundles of joy before the community. Elder Harald Ruff, with his very thoughtful sermon, imparted a lot of insight not only to the new parents but also to ‘old’ parents and to us grandparents, on how to say ‘no’! Very difficult!!

The hymns chosen celebrated the family, and Sonia Glenk was an inspiring accompanist; her rendition of ‘Peter and the Wolf ‘ at the end of the service, had us all smiling.

Having just joined the choir, I can vouch for the hard work put in by every member and especially by our conductor Annette Wagner-Hesse. Being able to look at the congregation from where the choir was sitting, I was delighted to see the young parents with their babies, the doting grandparents in the background and further back the whole adoring family and community, truly a gift to warm anybody’s heart!

Tea and coffee was served and many in our community took the opportunity to stay and talk to each other over a ‘cuppa’ – sharing friendship, allowing oneself time to chat with someone one has not seen for some time, greeting and welcoming someone not known yet. The best part for me is when people are still chatting while we have cleaned up and are about to leave!

I would like to thank all concerned including the Ba-Bo Community Council for organizing this happening. This is what a community is all about: sharing precious moments! Elisabeth Wagner

On Friday evening 17^th October I attended a school concert with a difference. From the opening item it was clear that all in attendance were in for something special. Assembled on the stage – in a variety of shapes and sizes – was a large group of Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind students. The choir performed Single Voice, with lyrics to stir the emotions, and a couple of popular tunes from Oliver. I was transfixed by the children, their individual characteristics and personalities shining through, they performed as a cohesive unit under the steady and reliable piano accompaniment of one of the teachers. Naturally, a conductor was surplus to the requirements of this choir!

The next item – and first solo performance – was by Amara Wagner, who did herself and her family and friends proud by singing the vocally challenging (I couldn’t reach the high notes) ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’. It was intriguing listening to her singing voice, being so accustomed to her speaking voice. Amara would return just prior to the interval with a vocal group (and one student on percussion, another on keyboard) – the Ultra GoGos – to punch out ‘I Feel The Earth’ and ‘I’ve Got The Music In Me’. A week earlier, when Amara described which songs she would be singing, I had remarked to her that I was familiar with them. I asked whether I could sing along, to which she replied with an emphatic NO! Even singing very quietly to myself (pianissimo interni – ppi) was not to be encouraged. Amara did, however, consent to hearty clapping, restrained whistling, with an abundance of cheering and whooping. Foot stomping was also off the permitted list. I’m not sure whether I adhered fully to these instructions, but where and when I deviated I think I got away with it.

The concert continued with a showcase of musical talent – piano, guitar, clarinet, percussion – and vocal skill (even some own compositions). To witness the joy and pride each performer brought to the stage, together with their composure, self-confidence and ability to project, was stimulating, very touching, inspiring and a little heart-rending. The hurdles facing these blind and visually impaired students will always be there, yet in the presence of their music they were magically fading away as I watched and listened intently. Early on I leaned over to Heiner (Amara’s father) and (naively) asked how the students learn their pieces. Notes in Braille do exist, although the students’ ability to also learn by ear would be second-to-none; and, of course, if they lose their spot, they cannot quickly look at sheet music to find the place again.

The evening concluded with the presentation of various awards and scholarships. To our tremendous surprise and delight, Amara was presented with a well-deserved Encouragement Award. This capped off a truly remarkable evening, which will remain with me forever.

Every school concert I’ve witnessed has been special and something not-to-be-missed. This particular presentation delivered as much and more. I felt the greatest pride and admiration for all the performers and their magnificent teachers and supporters. I’ve already reserved my ticket for the 2005 performance with Jacki and Heiner. What a night – go Amara (with much uncontrolled foot stomping)!

Mark Herrmann

A rather small group of Templers was hosted by Linda Beilharz at Lake Eppalock this year. Unfortunately, no other country Templers were present, but six of us had made our way north from Melbourne. The service conducted by Rolf Beilharz included a moving personal story which demonstrated the calming effect that even one ‘insignificant’ person can have on the emotional state and well-being of a group.

The rain of the morning had cleared by lunchtime, and the sun shone brilliantly in time for the afternoon walks to the lake. The water level had increased somewhat since last Christmas, when that particular part of Lake Eppalock had been all but dry, but it’s clearly going to be a considerable time before the lake approaches the level of several years ago and is again fully functional as a recreational facility.

When a group is small, the individual characteristics of each person become more apparent. Such a situation not only allows each person to contribute to the general conversation, but can produce unexpected rewards and leave deep impressions which may have been lost in a larger group situation. We all felt the day to have been most worthwhile. Vyrna Beilharz

Our annual picnic at Nurragingy Reserve on 12^th October was a pleasant get-together with families and friends. Although down in numbers from last year, 39 persons made the effort to attend. The kids played while the parents BBQ’d and prepared the food and soon lunch was ready. The afternoon was spent in good company with tea, coffee and cake, kids met up with each other and played, relatives and friends caught up with the latest, a raffle added to the fun of the day, and… oh yes, a quick shower of rain as we were about to head for home.

Our Christmas Bazaar organized by the Frauenverein will be held on 22^nd November in our church hall at Meadowbank commencing 10.30am. Come along, bring all your families and friends to enjoy a good day out browsing amongst the stalls of home-made goodies and craft, enjoy a delicious lunch of bratwurst and salads. Cold drinks are available. In the afternoon, enjoy tea, coffee and home-baked cakes. The bazaar is always the largest social function of the year and promises to be so again this year. Bring all of your families, tell all your friends about it. See you all on 22^nd November.

For the Sydney Community, Hartmut Beck

YOUTH

Every couple of months Darkzone Laser in Box Hill have a midnight to dawn session. The cost of these all-nighters is approximately $20 - $30. We will be looking at joining in with one of the public sessions or if we get enough people, booking our own session, early next year. I would like to hear from anyone interested in taking part in one of these sessions so I can get an idea of numbers.

Since life has been extra busy this year (or so it seems!) we will just be finishing off the year with a party night breakup!

This will take place on Saturday 29^th November in the Bayswater Hall.

Our whole youth program, from Kids’ Club to post confirmation, desperately needs your help. There are many small and some not-so-small areas that need people power to continue to function.

These are:

This is just a very broad outline and within these areas there are lots of smaller tasks which people need to volunteer to take on. Without this volunteer help, we will not be able to get an adequate youth program up and running and, whether we like it or not, our youth is our future.

please help me invest in it!

Summer camp 2004 will again be held at the Phillip Island YCW Holiday Camp from Friday 9^th to Friday 16^th January 2004. All children aged 11 years to Confirmation are welcome and encouraged to come along. You can also bring a friend or three!

Susi Blackwell – Youth Coordinator

CHILDREN'S SECTION

Now that it is raining and we are having sunnies as well, the plants should all start to grow. Have you noticed all the buds on the trees? Our next story is about the farmer’s seeds.

Parables told by Jesus – Matthew 13

Jesus liked to tell people stories. His stories had special meanings. One day, he told this story.

The people wondered about the meaning of this story. Jesus told them,

I could not find any jokes about plants, so here are some mice jokes, because I know they like to live in wheat fields.

What do you call a mouse eating a lemon? Pip squeak.

What is small, blue and furry? A mouse holding its breath.

When ten mice fall into a lake, what is the first thing they do? Get wet.

What is grey, has four legs and a trunk? A mouse going on holidays.

How do you tell the difference between a mouse and an elephant?

Try picking them up.

I hope to see you all at the Family Service in Bentleigh on the 23^rd November, and then join us for a sausage sizzle and a game of tennis.

Till next month, Moni Imberger

TTHA

Herzlichen Dank, Dr. Schreiber und Ihren Mitarbeitern!

Christmas is almost upon us once again. We are planning and looking forward to the Christmas festivities. Festivities which should be wonderful, joyful and reflective for our residents, just as they used to be.

We will have a brightly decorated Christmas tree, but we cannot provide the frozen snow, the cold nights when one loved to sit near the warm stove. No, it may even be very hot at Christmas. And yet, we must try and capture this special festive spirit for the residents.

There will be no shortage of presentations. A number of German speaking students in our locality will be reciting poems and singing German carols. On each of the Advent Sundays we have a different choir performing. We look forward to hearing the Lieder-Kranz Tivoli, the Arion Liedertafel and the Austrian Choir.

To the already busy programme, Dolly will add a Sunday Family Advent gathering. Advent and Christmas are always more meaningful if they are enjoyed within the family circle. Will Father Christmas be there?

The TTHA’s two umbrella organisations, the AGWS and the TSA, present our residents with a small gift every year, sometimes the only one they receive. We feel it is always joyfully accepted.

May I at this point, appeal to all friends and relatives of our dear home occupants to help and create with them a happy and loving festive season. We need to maintain and create a homely atmosphere. We are not an Institution.

The anxiously anticipated accreditation finally took place in early September. Our management and staff were extremely well prepared. Three young government accreditation agency ladies examined everything that could be examined against the mountain of procedures and standards. Our staff lined up and presented to them the required reports, people to be interviewed and plans, leaving them totally exhausted after three intensive days. However, their praise for our home was huge. They assured us of immediate accreditation, having passed 44 out of the set 44 sections.

And, after about five weeks, we finally received the eagerly anticipated news. The Aged Care Agency has nominated us, the Tabulam and Templer Home, as the only home in Victoria and Tasmania which has achieved a "commendable", four-year accreditation. There are now only five homes in Australia with this distinction.

May I say here with pride: "We have the best Home in Victoria."

Many thanks, Dr Schreiber and your staff!

Friedrich Sawatzky, President TTHA Management Committee.

Tabulam and Templer Homes for the Aged are pleased to announce that we have just received the first and only commendable rating awarded in Victoria/Tasmania.

The ‘commendable’ rating recognizes aged care services that are truly exceptional. To achieve this rating, a service has to have established, continuous improvement systems, innovative practices and the ability to demonstrate exceptional results for residents beyond those necessary to achieve accreditation.

Tabulam and Templer Homes for the Aged in Bayswater, Victoria is an ethno-specific not-for-profit organization offering a range of services for older people who belong to the German speaking communities. The Homes provide residential aged care for 84 high and low level care residents, including a secure dementia unit as well as respite care. The adjacent retirement village provides 24 independent living units for some 30 residents and a planned activity group for frail, elderly members of the wider German speaking community also operates. Tabulam and Templer Homes operate a ‘Continuum of Care’ Model providing different levels of care that allow individuals to age in place.

This official recognition comes amidst preparations for the opening of a new 34-bed building which includes a 16-bed ‘extra service’ wing.

The award recognizes the outcomes achieved for residents over the past three years and confirms that residents and relatives are exceptionally happy with all aspects of the Homes and that management, staff and quality of care are rated very highly.

The official presentation of the award will take place in November. The Minister for Ageing, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, has indicated her attendance at this event.

Dr. Martin Schreiber, CEO

NOTICES

Saal at 11am on Hapke’s property which is at 92 St Georges Road, Upper Beaconsfield, Melway Ref 210 D10. The gazebo offers good shelter. Tea and coffee will be provided. Please bring food to share, and your own utensils.

There is a lake and lots of productive gardens, ornamental trees, bushland and walking tracks.

All are welcome. Come and have a companionable day out in the spring countryside.

Ed

At a packed Presentation Service in the Community Chapel on 12^th October, three children were presented before God and the community by Elder Harald Ruff.

Jordan Michael Kuerschner

Evan Jared Richter

Grace Johanna Wagner

The October Templer Calendar gave me food for thought. Some Sundays have four activities listed in the Melbourne/Victoria area.

Is this good or is it a problem?

For me, as an individual, it causes concern for a few reasons:

BUT I don’t think it is a problem for the TSA at all:

It is TSA calendar creation time for 2004. In the past we have never double booked (geographically close) TS activities on the same day. Does this policy need to be changed? Should it be changed? Please guide our calendar makers – send me a letter, an email or ring me.

Renate Beilharz

NOVEMBER CALENDAR

Heritage 3 – The Betlehem Templer Settlement – History and New Research

Speaker: Horst Blaich

Coffee and cakes will be available.

All are welcome

Saturday 15^th November, 2pm.

Music Program – Various performers.

After the success of the last two months’ music program, we are presenting a slightly different music program that will feature a number of performers presenting 2or 3 musical pieces each. It will showcase the wealth of emerging talent of the younger generation.

Coffee and cakes will be available.

All are welcome.

The response to last month’s invitation for young musicians – up to 30 is still young – wasn’t so great, in fact it was zip. We know that some young Templers or their friends out there MUST be playing an instrument or sing.

The Boronia Hall is an intimate, friendly venue that's not much bigger than aunt Mabel's living room. Bring along any friends and together we'll make the afternoon a big success.

So give the Friends’ invitation a second thought.  The event will be held on Saturday 15^th November at 2pm in the Boronia Hall.

In the book ` The Holy Land Called` Paul Sauer writes:

This was the driving force behind the formation of the Friends Of Boronia Hall and is an important fact to remember.

The Friends of the Boronia Hall are grateful that the Boronia Templer Hall was placed on the Victorian Heritage Register in February 2003 in recognition of its religious and cultural heritage importance.

We have finalized our proposal for the Hall and sent it to the TSA Office for distribution to all members in time for the 22^nd November extra-ordinary meeting. Every member should have received this by mail together with proxy forms by the end of October.

An extra-ordinary general meeting of the Temple Society requires a quorum of one-third of all TSA members either in person or by proxy to proceed. This includes interstate members. The TSA had 592 members at 30^th June 2003, so a quorum of at least 198 is needed, or the meeting will be abandoned. If a quorum is not attained, the original decision made in 2001 will stand and the Hall will be sold.

We ask you to read our proposal carefully and we seek your informed vote on 22^nd November so that the matter can be decided clearly. Naturally, we in the Friends Group want you to support our proposal, but we will respect all votes. We propose that you allow us to trial run the Hall program for 2 years. We are asking you to delay selling the hall long enough to establish whether or not there is a viable and economic way of retaining this part of our heritage. We have prepared a financial plan for the next two years that does not require any TSA funds to finance operating costs.

At the 2001 AGM in Bayswater, when a motion to sell the Boronia Hall property was carried, at least 470 TSA members did not attend or send their proxies. This time we need your support either by attending the extra-ordinary meeting or by proxy.

We ask that, if you are unable to come to this meeting and you agree with our cause, please send your proxy to Erika English at 7 Wilhelma Ave, Bayswater, 3153 by 17^th November.

Erika English, for Friends of Boronia Hall

Asparagus – We buy it, we eat it, we enjoy it. But do we ever think about how it’s grown and marketed?

Picking you up at 8.00a.m. Bayswater & 8.45a.m Bentleigh we head for Koo Wee Rup and the Asparagus Farm. We will stop for morning tea along the way at one of the many scenic spots in the area.

Our tour at the Asparagus Farm begins at 10.00 a.m. firstly viewing the freshly cut asparagus being delivered to the "state of the art" processing system. We also see the Homestead, a classic purpose built venue, where we are treated to a large screen video of the Asparagus story. A cooking demonstration follows concluding with tastings of the sumptuous dishes. Before we leave the property we can make some purchases of freshly picked asparagus and also see the friendly Clydesdale horses.

Having worked up an appetite we will have lunch at the Kooweerup Royal Hotel.

After lunch we proceed to Haar’s Wholesale Nursery at Tyabb where we will enjoy a guided tour of the complex. There may be an opportunity to purchase some plants.

After a very interesting day we head for home, expected arrival approximately 4.30p.m.

Cost: All inclusive $33.00 pp 40 plus passengers.

Bookings: Helga Anderson 0438 141 389 by Friday November 14. Everyone is welcome.

Our whole youth program, from Kids’ Club to post confirmation, desperately needs your help. There are many small and some not-so-small areas that need people power to continue to function.

Within these areas there are lots of smaller tasks which people need to volunteer to take on. Without this volunteer help, we will not be able to get an adequate youth program up and running and, whether we like it or not,

SUMMER CAMP

Summer camp 2004 will again be held at the Phillip Island YCW Holiday Camp from Friday 9^th to Friday 16^th January 2004. All children aged 11 years to Confirmation are welcome and encouraged to come along. You can also bring a friend or three!

See page 21 for details Susi Blackwell

The Be/Mo Community and Tennis Club will be holding an OPEN DAY on Sunday 23^rd November. It will commence with a Family Service at 10.15am. At 11.30am the Be/Mo Community Council in conjunction with the Tennis Club will provide you with a yummy sausage sizzle in the gardens behind the TSA office. There will be Round Robin Tennis Matches for the energetic individuals and the bowling alley will also be open. (Remember to bring appropriate shoes for both activities.)

The day will be completed with Kaffee and Kuchen. A cake donation for afternoon tea would be appreciated.

Erich Waechter for theBe/Mo Community & Tennis Club Committees

Just a note reminding you to take part at 9am at the Bentleigh Hall. This working bee will concentrate on preparing the hall and gardens for the festive season - the usual lawn mowing and garden maintenance and the annual cleaning of all exterior windows. If you have a spare chamois and bucket, please bring them along. If you can help for the whole morning, or only for an hour or two, we would really enjoy your company.

Everyone is welcome and morning tea will again be the festive event we have come to expect.

For further details contact Theo Richter on 9579 4658 or 0419 362 379

We are looking forward to seeing everyone at our Advent celebration in Bentleigh on Sunday, 7th December. The program will start as usual at 2.30pm and will be in English and German.

Sigi Katz and her team of helpers are once again organising the bazaar. We need lots of people to help support them! In particular a batch of Christmas cookies (Gutsle) would be greatly appreciated. If you are able to help by donating some of your baking or any craft items, please drop these off at the Templer Office by Wednesday, 3rd December. If you are making cookies, you may also drop them off at Marianne Hermann’s (25 Catherine Rd, East Bentleigh).

We have to comply with current food handling laws. This means each batch of cookies needs to be accompanied by a note stating who baked them and when, together with a list of ingredients. This only takes a moment and we hope it will not pall your enthusiasm.

We also need helpers to set up the hall on Sunday morning (from 9am onwards). Please come, as the more, the merrier and it’s fun to transform the hall!

Recent confirmees, potential Junior campers – we would also like to ask that you help us make this afternoon a success, by helping serve coffee and cakes. If you could come to the hall a little earlier, you can help cutting up cakes etc. (yummm!).

On the topic of cakes – while you’re baking your Gutsle, please think about what type of cake or cookie you could bake for the day itself. It is wonderful to admire those plates of special treats and we need your help.

Remember to bring money on the day for the bazaar and the special table decorations, which will be available for purchase as usual.

We’re looking forward to welcoming you on 7^th December!!

Annette Wagner-Hesse and Veronica Rutowicz

A bus will be departing from TTHA at 1.30pm on Sunday 7^th Dec for the Adventsfeier in Bentleigh. Please write your name on the list on the notice board at the Altersheim if you wish to come on the bus.

After the September meeting, Heidi Vollmer was able to forward over $300 to the Bilby Project in Charleville, Qld, that she spoke about. They were thrilled – thanks all!

At the well-attended October meeting, Klinks did a fascinating presentation about Kurth’s Kiln (near where they live). We wish them both a good journey as they fly to their son Mark’s wedding in California.

Gisela Sawatzky, for the Ba-Bo ladies.

While we were discussing this year’s program, the question arose: where should our donations go? We need to know that the money raised goes to a worthy cause.

Someone suggested the Arab children and orphans the Sisters of St Charles Borromaeus look after in Jerusalem (in our former settlement). For many decades, the Sisters have been caring for Arab girls, teaching them to read and write, and how to clean and take care of a home. They have been very successful in this. However, times have changed. Where in the 30s and 40s they looked after girls from well-to-do homes, their focus is now on the orphans, the girls conveniently forgotten by everyone.

The Sisters have always prided themselves on being able to look after their own finances. However, due to the hostilities between the Palestinians and Israelis, the pilgrims on whom they relied for their income are not visiting the Holy City, and with that, the Sisters’ income base has vanished. They still care for all these children, even with hardly any money.

Most of us who have visited Jerusalem have stayed with or visited the Sisters in ‘our colony’. We know of their work and we would like to support them in their endeavours. Their need has never been more pressing than now. So our donations are going to those children in the Sisters’ care in Jerusalem. May their Christmas and New Year be better!

‘Vergelts Gott’ the Sisters would say! May these children grow into responsible adults, working for peace! Amen.

Elisabeth Wagner

To ease the pressure on everyone’s pre-Christmas calendar, this year’s Ba-Bo Community Christmas Celebrations and Carols by Candlelight will be held on the same date, Saturday 6^th December at the Bayswater Hall.

Children’s Christmas activities will commence at 6:30, including a visit from Father Christmas and distribution of presents to registered children (see details below). All members and friends are welcome to attend.

Carols by Candlelight will commence at about 8:00 with a light supper, followed by English and German carols under the stars on the Wiese (weather permitting, else in the comfort of the Hall). The Brass Ensemble and our Community Head, Elisabeth Wagner on electric organ, will provide musical accompaniment. A donation of $5 per person or $15 per family is sought to cover costs of the supper, candles & holders and song sheets supplied. Everyone, young and old, friends, family & neighbours are most welcome! Please bring your own rug and your best singing voices. If you still have the energy, round out the evening with a cup of tea or coffee.

Please join us to share the magic of Christmas.

Manfred Decker, for the Ba-Bo Community Council

THAT'S RIGHT!!!!

It's not long until that wonderful season of Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The Bentleigh/Moorabbin Community Committee invites all members and friends - young, old and families from Bentleigh, Bayswater and wherever.

After Saal we will immediately follow with sherries and savouries to begin
the festivities.

We also plan for the usual RAFFLE and ask for donations to ensure its success.
Videos, party food and drinks will be provided for the children.

We welcome everyone and look forward to a wonderful night and ask that you PLEASE book by 7^th December so that we can best plan this event and ensure its success.

Bookings can be individual, couples, families, one or more tables!!

The TSA Office received an email from Architect Dan Picker, Israel, referring to the ‘Matheus Frank House’ on Emek Refaim Street. He is concerned about new development in the area, and wants to hear from anyone interested in funding the purchase of this house, and subsequent development into a Templer Museum.

A copy of the email can be obtained from Renate Beilharz or the TSA Office, so that anyone interested can contact him.

Renate Beilharz.

I have been asked to be the co-ordinator of this group. This task will involve fielding any queries that are received about our Templer history. The enquiries will then be re-directed to one of the 12 people who have offered their help in handling the research.

So, please don`t hesitate to contact me. Erika English

The formation of the TSA Heritage Group is progressing and we would like to let you know that anyone interested in Templer history, who would like to be involved with our group, should contact us urgently. We want to have our team together before Christmas. Interstate people are also more than welcome, so please contact us soon.

Horst Blaich, on behalf of the TSA Heritage Group

We are always asking our ‘oldies’ to record their memories of Palestine before it is too late. To this end Heidi Vollmer badgered husband Heinz about his memories of Wilhelma, especially during the World War II years. She has written these up for interested people.

It must be noted that these are the memories of one person, and memories are reliant on an individual’s interpretation of events. These are Heinz’ memories and the way he saw life in Wilhelma as a child/young man.

Anyone interested in reading a copy of Heinz’ Wilhelma memories can contact the Office for a copy to be mailed or emailed.

Renate Beilharz

The Sarona Restoration Architects in Israel urgently require information and photos of the following houses:- 1) Gemeindehaus, 2) Willi Groezinger,

3) Samuel Weller, 4) Karl Steller, 5) Ida Lange, and  6) Lydia Weller. Should you have any information on the above properties, please let us know:-

The popular book "The Changing Land between the Jordan and the Sea" with the many aerial photographs of Israel is still available.

Please contact Manfred Haering.

As advised in the previous Templer Record our fact finding on the history and life in Sarona has, after nearly two years, now come to an end. We will be following up some matters which need to be clarified or checked. Some of these queries we may well publish in the TR and seek further input. We will from now on be concentrating our efforts to consolidate and document the great inspirational story of hope, hardship and sorrow, human endeavour, happiness and joy, and pride that was Sarona. This will be published in a book.

To all those persons who have responded to our requests and questioning over the past two years we say a big "THANK YOU". You’ve been just marvellous.

The work associated with the Sarona Restoration of Houses will continue. With that project much work still needs to be done in conjunction with the Tel Aviv City Council Preservation Society and the UNESCO architects. We are still looking for details of houses in Sarona, especially interior fitouts. Any such information will assist greatly in restoring a number of our forefathers’ homes back to their original splendour. Hopefully in the not too distant future we will be able to publish a full listing of those homes designated for restoration.

Our request in last month’s TR for the first Sarona Song was responded to by Theo Graze, grandson of the late Carl Kuebler who wrote the song in 1919 whilst interned in Sidi Bishr, Egypt. Theo was able to give us both the lyrics and music of the song – a real treasure in our search for historical documentation on Sarona. Thanks Theo. A copy has been made for the Templer Archives. We’re sure many old "Saronians" will have fond memories of choirs singing:

Wo des Audsche Wellen Fliessen

Wo des Audsche Wellen fliessen

Liegt mein Heim, mein Elternhaus

Wie ein Wunder Garten Gottes,

Wie ein goldnes Paradies.

Dein gedenk ich alle Zeit

Refrain ...

Refrain. ... Helmut Glenk

on behalf of the Sarona Project Team

One of the intriguing questions is how and from where did the initial eucalyptus trees actually come to Sarona.

Let’s consider the following:-

Some questions arise:-

I’ve been told that a member of the Waechter family and a member of the Hardegg family migrated to Australia around that time and that they may have been the contact(s) in Australia. Another person has advised that a Mr Held was involved with getting the seedlings from Australia to Palestine. A further person has mentioned Jakob Jung as having an involvement in bringing eucalyptus trees to Palestine. Another reference to trees is in Nikolai Schmidt’s speech, in 1946, commemorating the 75^th year of Sarona when he refers to obtaining trees from Beirut and other places.

In view of the above, I consider it unlikely that the initial eucalyptus trees came from Australia in those early days of the Sarona settlement. Later plantings may well have come from Australia. I believe it is most likely that the initial eucalyptus trees that were planted in Sarona were imported as seedlings probably from Algeria or maybe Turkey.

I would really appreciate hearing from anyone with thoughts or information on this topic. Please let either Manfred Haering or me know if you can offer any additional information.

Helmut Glenk

Every year at the end of September or the beginning of October the Temple Society in Germany celebrates Thanksgiving Day. In 1984 Lilo Thaler read the above prayer, which gives thanks to God for the beauty of nature and reminds us, that we have to handle the natural resources with care and respect. However, in praising the beauty of the creation, we must not forget the creator, and in the ever changing world we must recognise the everlasting presence and love of God.

Similar to our Sommerfest in Melbourne, Thanksgiving Day in Germany brings together many members from near and far. These opportunities give us the chance to realise how important the community spirit is, and how important it is to focus on our aim and to compromise in lesser issues. This year the 5^th October is a very special day for both regions of the Temple Society. In Melbourne the members meet for the AGA and in Stuttgart they celebrate Thanksgiving Day. May we be united in faith and goodwill.

Hulda Wagner

by Dr. Brigitte Hoffmann

"Your unfailing love, Oh Lord, reaches to heaven, your faithfulness to the skies", Psalm 36:6 ("Herr, deine Güte reicht, so weit der Himmel ist, und deine Wahrheit, so weit die Wolken gehen", Übersetzung Martin Luther.)

On bright summer days - when clouds drift slowly across the horizon, some of them dark and menacing (yet bringing welcome respite after the long drought), others glowing with light – and with the endless blue of the sky above, we can feel God’s love and God’s faithfulness. But what does God’s faithfulness mean? And is He really benevolent?

These were not questions for the psalmist. But in today’s rational age we have to face them. The psalmist took traditional faith for granted. For him, nature and history provided tangible evidence of God’s presence.

For us today truth in a religious sense comes from a belief that corresponds with our experience of reality. This was not an issue for cultures in former times. When people had little rational explanation for what was happening to them - from sickness to famine - they simply saw these events as acts of God (or of gods), and their faith offered the required interpretation. Many had spiritual experiences during which they felt, or thought that they could feel, God’s closeness and God’s will, and this assured them of their faith.

Experiences of this kind are still happening today, but they have become rare – at least in our cultural environment. We have blocked this path through our rationality, our lifestyle and also by our realization that spiritual experiences are not always, and cannot be proven to be, divine messages.

I think, therefore, that nature – Creation – is so important for many of us because it is a place where we not only talk about God but where we can experience something of His greatness and His magnificence with our senses; it is, so to speak, evidence of God’s presence, and we are filled with wonder, admiration and gratitude.

But this is only one aspect of God. This marvellous Creation is also merciless and cruel – not only as in the case of earthquakes and hailstorms - but by its very essence. All life, at least all sophisticated life, owes its existence to the destruction of lower life forms.

Nature is an amazingly complex system, so complex that we can often only see the starting point. It appears to be subject to two laws: the striving of every plant and animal species to preserve itself, and simultaneously to be open to change, to new characteristics. This occurs not only through suppression and extermination, but perhaps even more frequently through adaptation. Every meadow and every nature strip is an example of the way in which hundreds of different plant and animal species live together, exerting pressure on each other, but also protecting and fertilizing one another. Every such biotope looks a bit different from the other; it is preserving and changing itself at the same time. This whole system of preservation and change is a marvel incomprehensible to us – and it reveals the presence of the divine.

This marvel does not consider the fate of the individual. The individual is sacrificed whenever this is important for the preservation of the species. Suffering and enormous exertion is expected of the individual in order to keep development going. Do we deceive ourselves then when we speak of "God’s love"?

I have been describing nature, because the wording of the psalm seems to suggest this and because its images appeal to us directly. But this is not enough. It is not enough, because God’s faithfulness reaches far beyond His presence in nature. And it is not enough for us. We are seeking a God whose love is directed towards us – towards all humans and towards every single one of us. Does such a God exist? Can we experience such a God? Can we experience Him in a world of hunger and violence, hatred and indifference in which some have to suffer excessively and others are spared almost all of these evils without us knowing why?

In the animal world we accept the fact that the individual has to suffer and to perish for the sake of the species. But in the world of humans we cannot accept this. We do not allow the state to sacrifice the individual for the sake of the whole – nor do we allow God to do that. We feel ourselves as individuals, and all of us want to have our own destiny with its own individual meaning. Therefore, we are filled with indignation when we hear of suffering or desperation, even when we realize that it is caused by men or that it is the consequence of an inevitable process, and we accuse God of allowing it to happen.

I tend to see it the other way round: because we are individuals with our own destiny and feeling, we can experience God’s love which seems to be non-existent in nature. Gellert’s well-known hymn "Wie groß ist des Allmächt’gen Güte!" ("How great the love of God, how tender!") portrays it in a variety of ways – but he does not say that God’s love would spare us sorrow and distress.

What Gellert describes as his own experience of God’s love and benevolence has nothing to do with external fate. It is the innermost experience that God is close to us ("Ist der ein Mensch, den sie nicht rührt?" – "No heart has he who is unmoved"). I am about to translate from his form of expression into our way of speaking: for him it is God who is leading him through his life whatever course it will take and who is letting him enjoy good things; it is God who is giving him inner peace and constantly renewed spiritual strength. He realizes that through God’s love he will be shown the way he has to go and that the commandments to trust in God and to love one’s neighbour have been bestowed on him by God to become his own desire. He realizes that he is loved and accepted by God, no less in times of failure, and he knows that consciously living in God’s grace can comfort him in times of distress and can free him from fear of disaster and death.

This is the only possible answer to the question of God’s benevolence. It is futile to ask what God is like – we cannot know and cannot comprehend it, because we can only imagine Him in terms of our limited human understanding. We can only ask how he is experienced by us.

Can we have experiences of God’s love just as the hymn writer has described? The question whether God can be experienced can only be answered by individuals. But I think that to a certain extent there is also a general answer, and Gellert can show us the way to it: when we - like him - accept the good things which we receive in life as a gift - then our joy will generate new courage; when we in despair remain confident that we are accepted by God even if we are not accepted by others or if we do not accept ourselves – then this will give us support; and perhaps most importantly: when we, as best we can, try "to follow when He points the way", the way of love – then the joy which we are giving to others will flow back to ourselves and will give us strength to keep going.

We cannot fathom God’s faithfulness, it is far beyond our comprehension. But we can experience God’s love and benevolence, for we are surrounded by it, now and forever.

From a service held in Stuttgart in July 2003; translated by Peter Lange, Hulda and Erica Wagner; published in German in "Warte des Tempels"

Gods love manifests in Christ Jesus

Written in the second half of the first century A.D. before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 A.D., the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Christian Community in Rome, in common with his other letters to Christian Communities in Asia Minor and Greece, belongs to the earliest documents included in the New Testament.

Paul’s letter to the Romans is undoubtedly the most comprehensive and clearest statement of his message about how people are put right with God through the grace of faith.

Chapter 8 in particular describes the power of God’s spirit in the life of the Christian believer and the certainty of God’s love in all adversity. Our text is like a culminating finale of praise of the blessing flowing from a life in Christ. It is not difficult to imagine the steadying influence and uplifting encouragement given to the Christian Community in Rome by Paul’s enthusiasm highlighting God’s unfailing and ever-present love radiating from Jesus, whom he called Christ Jesus our Lord. What Paul has in mind when he says Christ Jesus our Lord, is clearly set out in Chapter 1: 2–4 of his letter to the Romans: This gospel (the gospel of Christ) God announced beforehand in sacred scriptures through his prophets. It is about his Son: on the human level he was a descendant of David, but on the level of the spirit – the Holy Spirit – he was the proclaimed Son of God by an act of power that raised him from the dead: it is about Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul’s differentiation between Jesus as Son on the human level and as Son on the level of the spirit I believe to be crucial for a proper understanding of the expression Son of God used in the Bible to identify Jesus. By birth and education, Paul was a man steeped in Hebrew tradition and versed in Greco-Roman culture. Doubtlessly he knew full well that in the Semitic languages of the Middle East, the word son is commonly used for such purposes as denoting membership of a class (e.g. son of Israel for Israelite), or in the sense of appointment as an authorised representative or deputy (e.g. in 2 Chronicles 19:6, or in Hebrews 3: 1-6). It is worth noting here that in the Hebrew language, for instance, the term Son of God describes a god-like person rather than a son fathered by God.

This contrasts sharply with the Western way of thinking where the word son always denotes descendance. It is this contrast in understanding which, I believe, over centuries caused much unfortunate misinterpretation in Christian circles and in the formulation of Church doctrine.

What has become known as the Nicean Creed may be regarded as one such example of misinterpretation with far-reaching consequences. In its present-day version it is the only Christian creed accepted as authoritative by all major Christian churches. In brief it describes:

In my understanding, this Creed unambiguously promulgates direct descendance of Jesus from God. It is a belief many people, including Templers, are unable to share. In this context, the reader is referred to the text under 2(b) Jesus of the Temple Society’s statement Religious Perspective which seeks to reflect human cognition in the light of life’s practical reality.

Concluding, I see the above text both as a realistic and a spiritual challenge, a challenge to reconcile our inner and outer worlds, moulding them into one compatible whole. A challenge to acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God in the sense of a human being divinely inspired and destined to work with authority towards the realisation of God’s Kingdom on Earth.

While faith bears its fruit in works, the Kingdom of God within us (Luke 17:21) bears its fruit in the interaction with our fellow men and with the world around us. Making it bear fruit consistently is not an easy task, but it is a task we cannot shirk in our quest for a life fulfilled. Dietrich Ruff

13.8.41, temp. 25E - 27E Heavy storm in the night and pouring rain. But the ship continued south majestically at 30 knots; despite the terrifying noise, it hardly rocked. The day before we were roughly in line with the southern tip of Sumatra, but no land was visible. When the sun came out again around 15.00 h everyone was glad of the warmth since we were wearing the lightest of summer clothes.

14.8.41, temp. down to 22E - 26E After crossing the Tropic of Capricorn (den südlichen Polarkreis), the hot weather was over. Everyone searched their bags for warm clothes, with no success. We had been told we would get all our cases once on board but the main luggage was stowed in the ship’s bowels, unreachable. What to do? We froze like wet rats. Not even in bed did we warm up. Heating didn’t function, of course. No amount of pleading gave us access to our luggage.

On this day the sea looked like black ink, oily smooth. Whales could be seen, or their water spouts.

15.8.41, temp. 16E - 20E Entered Fremantle Harbour at 6a.m. Dropped anchor about 1000m from land. Took on food and fuel.

16.8.41, temp. 14E - 19E The cabin windows remained open again; however, the need for fresh air had decreased.

17.8.41, temp. 16E - 19E An Australian government medico, accompanied by members of the Australian C.I.D., came on board to carry out an inspection of the passengers’ hands and underarms, to prevent scabies being introduced.

18.8.41, 17E - 20E All internees over 16 were thumb-printed by the C.I.D. who came on board yesterday.

19.8.41, 13E - 16.5E The British [guards] Police were replaced by Australian guards. Departed Fremantle 6 a.m. steaming south. A storm in the afternoon made the boat rock noticeably.

20.8.41, 13E - 20E Many passengers are seasick.

21.8.41, temp. 16.5E Weather a bit better, some still seasick.

22.8.41, 20E Friday. Rocky land visible on the horizon. Some said Tasmania, others thought the southern tip of Australia.

23.8.41. Dropped anchor 9a.m. about 1000m from shore in Sydney Harbour. Calculating the distances and the time travelled, we concluded we must have come through the Passstraße (Bass Strait).

Sydney lies on a hill rising from the harbour and is dominated by the Harbour Bridge, the longest single span bridge in the world. Especially at night, the city looks wonderful with all the colourful neon advertisements. Many of us saw the Southern Cross for the first time up in the sky. Everyone crowded to the small bullseyes to enjoy the sights.

24.8.41 . – Disembarkation. To be concluded

From the UK, Martin Higgins sent a list of the internment camps established in 1939 that were still operating by 1942 in Palestine. Those numbers include Italians and some members of other nations, too.

On 25.8.1942 the number of internees in each camp:

Public Records Office, Kew

I read Christine Ruff’s article in the August TR with interest. It appears that like many others, she is absolutely delighted with the new chapel.

As I was at a conference when the chapel was opened, my first Saal at the chapel was on Christmas Day. To be perfectly honest, I had a lot of trouble – it did not seem like Christmas, I missed the tree, but what really hit me more was the white wall. What I like about the Bayswater Hall is the warm glow that comes from the wood panelling and I personally find the huge mass of white cold, stark and nearly sterile, and not warm and inviting.

Also for some reason, I had greater difficulty staying focussed during the service – maybe this was due to the sound system. However, what made it even more difficult was when I attended a funeral there, and could not see one single flower from where I was sitting. It was only after I stood up that I saw the beautiful flowers at the front. I personally would like to see a hanging or some other feature on the walls, to break up the space.

I do like what has happened in the Sunday School room, which is colourful and inviting.

Resi Schwarzbauer

Eleven Services were held in the Sydney Community during the year, July 02 to June ’03. Sydney Elders conducting Saal were Klaus Hoffmann, Werner Ehmann and Hartmut Beck. Ilse Birkner, one of our guest speakers for the year, conducted our September Saal and Dieter Ruff the October Service, combining his Saal with a Sydney visit with his wife Isolde. The June Service this year was conducted by Renate Beilharz. There were no Presentations during the year.

Theo Gollmer, a former member of our Society, passed away in April. The funeral service was conducted by a Lutheran pastor; a number of Templers attended.

No other deaths occurred among our community members during the year.

Our Annual Members Meeting on 25^th August last year could have been better attended. Seventeen members were present, just short of a quorum of 20. A full show of hands to the question of whether we should we go ahead with the meeting allowed us to continue and conclude our meeting.

A beautiful, warm and sunny day greeted us as we arrived for our Sunday picnic at the Nurragingy Reserve on 15^th September. Fifty-five persons in all enjoyed each other’s company with a BBQ lunch and afternoon tea and coffee. The section booked by Emmy Simmer had a children’s playground and BBQ facilities. A successful raffle was also held by the Frauenverein. We will try to make this an annual event once again.

The annual Christmas Bazaar in November was again a roaring success. Erika Schulz and her ladies offered those attending a variety of goods, bratwurst with salad and bread rolls and cool drinks were available; for sale were a variety of home baked cakes, cookies, jams, craft and needlework, wood carvings and more, a raffle added to the fun. In the afternoon tea and coffee with home baked cakes were served. Well done, ladies and thank you for a most enjoyable day.

The highlight of our Christmas Service was the presentation of a nativity play and singing by our young children. Various young soloists played their instruments, which added to the Christmas spirit and shows the depth of talent in our Community.

Our bus excursion on 5^th April took us to Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury River. Our bus departed at 8.30 a.m. from our church for the scenic drive to Moonee Moonee Workers Club, where lunch was enjoyed, followed by a two hour cruise to Lion and Dangar Islands. Devonshire Tea was served on board. Everyone enjoyed this excursion with its scenic views.

Our guest speaker for June was Renate Beilharz. After the service, Renate and Mark Herrmann gave us a graphic presentation of the proposed new Community Structure for Templer Communities in Australia. Our Community Council has since discussed this proposal and we have found a lot of merit in such a structure.

Finally I would like to thank those who attended and contributed in any way to our activities over the past year. Hartmut Beck

As indicated in an article and an open letter (reference document) both published in the April 2003 Templer Record (pages 6-9), the Regional Council has convened an extra-ordinary general meeting of members (clause 12.04 of the constitution) to address the issue of the TSA future of the Boronia Hall. The Extra-Ordinary General Meeting is to be held in the Templer Hall at 152 Tucker Road, Bentleigh, Victoria on the afternoon of Saturday 22^nd November 2003. At the 2001 Annual General Assembly in Bayswater, a motion to sell the Boronia Hall property (lots 27 and 28) was carried by a significant majority. Following a hearing in February 2003, the Heritage Council of Victoria decided to include the Hall building (lot 28) on the heritage register. The future of the building will thus need to be a cooperative undertaking between its owner (TSA or otherwise) and Heritage Victoria. The Friends of the Boronia Templer Hall Group has been charged with the responsibility to complete formulation of, finalize and present to this extra-ordinary general meeting its proposal for the future viability and sustainability of the Boronia Hall property. The detailed proposal is to be provided to the TSA Office for timely distribution to members no later than Friday 31^st October 2003.

The specific agenda and notice for the Extra-Ordinary General Meeting is being prepared and will be published in the November Templer Record, thus complying with the notice requirements (clause 12.01 of the constitution). No other business shall be transacted at the meeting (clause 12.02 of the constitution). The meeting will be deemed to have a quorum if more than one-third of all members of the TSA are present in person or by proxy. Should there be less than the requisite number present within half an hour of the time for which the meeting was called, the meeting shall be abandoned (clause 12.03 of the constitution).

Members unable to attend the meeting personally are invited to arrange for their representation by proxy. Specific proxy forms will be prepared and sent to all TSA members closer to the date of the meeting.

At the November meeting a single question regarding the future TSA ownership of the Boronia Hall will be put to the membership. If a simple majority of members support the proposal of the Friends’ Group, the decision from the 2001 motion will need to be rescinded. If a simple majority of members oppose the proposal of the Friends’ Group, or a quorum is not reached and the meeting is abandoned, the decision from the 2001 motion will stand and be acted upon.

Please endeavour to keep this important date free in your diaries.

The following people have submitted valid nominations to the TSA Office for the various Council/Committee positions available:

Regional Council: Harald Ruff; Gisela Schmidt (2 positions to be filled)

TTHA: Isolde Busch; Hiltraud Kinder (2 positions to be filled)

Central Fund: Ulrich Asenstorfer; Paul English (2 positions to be filled)

All TSA members have received four lift-outs, placed in the Templer Record over recent months, detailing the draft constitution for the proposed structure. It was a lot of reading and words, and we have received much feedback from members, which is currently being collated and will be responded to – thank you.

In the centre pages of this Templer Record is a diagram of how the Structure Working Party perceives the current practical application of the words in the constitution. It must be noted that the constitution is designed to allow flexibility and change, so the diagram of how all our current groups and sub-organisations fit together is not permanent for the life of the proposed constitution. Focus Groups and Interest Groups can increase, decrease and change in nature and number without requiring a new constitution as soon as the circumstances or needs of the Temple Society Australia Community changes.

Are you asking yourself:

It is important that all members of the TSA, who have an interest in the future of our special religious community, have an understanding of, and a role in refining, the proposed structure. By the end of September 2003, about 150 members will have attended meetings or discussions about the issue. Our aim is to increase that number considerably before the Structure is put to a vote of all members of the TSA. The new structure needs to be understood and acknowledged by the community if it is to succeed and be embraced by it.

To this end:

PLEASE be involved.

Friday 17^th October Sunday 19^th October

Bentleigh Hall Bayswater Hall

7:30 pm - 3:00 pm -

Supper provided Afternoon tea and child-minding provided

Renate Beilharz on behalf of the Community Structure Working Party.

Temple Society Central Fund (OGM) 9:45 am Bayswater Hall

Temple Society Australia (AGA) 10:30 am Community Chapel

The notices and agendas for these meetings were printed in the August Templer Record (pages 8-9). Members should also have received the relevant sets of financial statements in a separate mail-out last month. Further copies of all information can be sent on request and will be made available at the meetings. Proxy forms, for those unable to attend personally, are available from the TSA Office, the various Community Heads and Treasurers, TTHA and the various Community Halls.

Tabulam & Templer Homes for the Aged Inc (AGM) 11:00 am Bayswater Hall

A reminder that all TSA members are members of the incorporated association and are therefore invited to the TTHA Annual General Meeting. The notice and agenda for this meeting, including a proxy form and minutes from the 2002 meeting, were sent as part of the separate mail-out to members described above. Detailed financial statements will be made available at the meeting or can be sent in advance, on request from Dr Schreiber after 1^st October 2003.

The AGM of the incorporated association will simultaneously serve as an annual meeting of Home residents (including unit residents), at which the audited financial statements will be presented, to comply with the Retirement Villages Act.

Sometimes, as we all know, an emergency can arise which temporarily disrupts the normal everyday running of the household. For example, it may be as simple as not being able to prepare a meal for the family. As a community and as friends we could help by bringing a casserole, taking the children to school or with childcare etc.

To meet this need I wish to keep a list/roster of volunteers who would be willing to be called upon at such a time to help.

If you are prepared to be on such a list of helpers please ring me at the office.

I wish to draw your attention to the two forthcoming country services. On Sunday 19th October there is the Country Victoria service and on Sunday 2nd November the Gippsland group will meet at Hapkes’ in Beaconsfield. See the separate notice for details. Now that spring is here there is nothing nicer than a day in the country. We look forward to seeing many there.

Congratulations to the Management and Staff of the TTHA for having successfully passed the accreditation for another three years!

Best wishes to our sick and infirm friends.

Helga Anderson, Care Worker

Please ensure that computer generated articles are emailed to the Editor "and the TR Office". This ensures that articles are not typed up again unnecessarily!

Ed.

Twelve people on Saturday and seventeen on Sunday contributed to a stimulating discussion at the Chestnut Hill Conference Centre in Kallista. Also on Sunday, ten children played vigorously, enjoyed the barbecue and created artistic bookmarks afterwards (see picture page 23). Inside it was cosy and warm. Outside it was cold and it rained for much of the time. Those staying overnight did have one lovely walk between showers as the sun was setting among clouds.

Dr Rolf Beilharz spoke mainly about life on earth before mankind. Life came into existence with organic molecules able to replicate themselves. Original life used energy from the sun and from non-living materials on earth. Oxygen was produced by simple forms of life, and later forms of life evolved to use this oxygen, so that now nearly all life forms depend on it. Primitive cells appeared in the earth’s first 1000 million years, about 3700 million years ago. It took more than another 1000 million years to form the first true cells (like ours) and multicellular organisms appeared about 600 million years ago. Modern humans arose about 100,000 years ago and domestication of animals and plants first occurred about 12,000 years ago. Christianity is not quite 2000 years old, modern science about 500, the industrial revolution about 250. The environment was increasingly affected when domestic plants and animals started replacing wild plants and animals. In the last 200 years, mankind’s technology has affected the climate of the whole world by polluting the land, waters and even the air we breathe.

Evolution of life in every environment depends on the natural selection of organisms using the resources available in that environment most efficiently. The environment of any species is made up of other forms of life as well as its physical surroundings, including climate. In a stable environment, natural selection causes each species to use its part of the environment as efficiently as possible so that the maximum possible descendants survive. In a stable ecosystem, each species interacts with many other species, and such interactions are often mutually beneficial. Populations of predators and their prey remain in balance in the undisturbed environment. Natural selection acts on each individual species and adapts it to its niche in the local ecosystem. The total ecosystem is an incredibly efficient system for reusing available resources. Any relationship that is unstable rapidly leads to extinction of one or both species concerned. The resources freed are utilized by others to remake new stable relationships. Unsuccessful organisms do not leave many fossils.

Mass extinctions caused by major catastrophes (meteors, volcanic eruptions) are followed by surviving organisms evolving and adapting to all the newly created niches. Left to itself, natural selection achieves that state in which each form of life is wonderfully adapted to its particular environment. Early hominids up to the Neanderthals were still essentially in balance with their environments, including all other life. Early modern humans gained a capacity for abstract thought (consciousness), and advanced beyond the capabilities of chimpanzees in tool making and in their capacity to see themselves as part of the environment. Tools led to more tools. The resulting cultural evolution, like the earlier biological evolution, progressively increased in complexity and speed. Settlement and domesticating plants and animals produced a huge increase in resources. Humans made themselves largely independent of their environment. Populations increased and humans now affect the environment by their every action. The following contributors discuss the effects of humans on Planet Earth.

Although the importance of a healthy environment is generally accepted, it is easy to list major environmental problems caused by humans, including land degradation, loss of biodiversity and climate change.

I posed the question: Why does our society degrade the environment on which it depends?

In answering this, I focussed on the decisions we make as individuals, corporations and government. It is an unavoidable fact of life today that many decisions are made on a largely economic basis, whether you are an individual deciding what you will buy, a company designing the manufacture of a product or a government deciding where to build a dam or whether to allow a new tourism development in an area of high environmental value.

In economic terms, all the individual decisions of consumers and businesses, or the private sector, are called ‘market forces’. Public sector decisions are those made by governments, which represent the community. While public sector decisions aim to maximize the overall community benefit, in the private sector decisions are more likely to seek to maximize the benefit to the individual or business. Over the past two decades many governments, including both sides of politics in Australia, have adopted the ideology of ‘economic rationalism’, with the belief that governments should take a smaller role in setting agendas and that market forces should be allowed to operate freely.

Unfortunately for the environment, allowing market forces to dictate outcomes tends to lead to environmental degradation (and also often social inequality) in a number of ways, described very briefly here.

• Economic analyses (such as a cost: benefit analysis to weigh up the merits of a project) do not adequately take into account environmental costs passed on to future generations, e.g. the cost of dealing with nuclear waste or the cost of not having access to fossil fuels or wilderness if they have all been used up. Our descendants may wish that we had made different choices today but that wish is not reflected in market forces because they are not part of today’s market.
• When consumers are guided by price in choosing an item, as we all are, they will inadvertently favour a manufacturer who saves money by, say, discharging wastes into a river rather than one who treats the waste properly and whose goods are therefore more expensive. Market forces encourage manufacturers to pollute, which means the environment bears the cost, because mostly we don’t know about these indirect impacts of our consumer choices. Indeed our waterways and air became very polluted until the 1970s when the government (in the interests of the health and the environment) brought in regulations to control emissions.
• Decisions based on economic costs and benefits find it hard to deal with things that cannot be owned and valued, such as clean air, which are known as ‘public goods’. I cannot own a parcel of clean air that I don’t share with the person next to me. So cost:benefit analyses cannot easily take environmental degradation of that air into account.
• It is ‘economically rational’ for people to exploit the environment when they are harvesting some shared resource, such as fish in the ocean. If I take more fish there are fewer for the next person. But if I refrain from taking lots of fish (say, to ensure that there will be plenty next year) I can’t stop someone else exploiting the fish population so I may lose out. Unless there is some system for setting harvesting rates (again, this is usually applied by the public sector), then market forces will encourage exploitation of these sorts of shared resources.
• Our focus on money and the economy extends even to our measures of ‘progress’. We routinely hear about our Gross National Product (GNP) but not about the state of the environment or the quality of life of the Australian people. Environmentally damaging activities, such as unsustainable harvesting of forests, are measured as a positive, because GNP increases.

• Our high quality, high consuming, high waste-producing, economically-focussed lifestyle is achieved at the expense of the environment. To accept the status quo is to support a system that makes many decisions which cause environmental damage. While everyone is willing to cause some environmental degradation (e.g. we prefer to live in an artificial house than in a natural bush), we need to find out more about the environmental consequences of our actions so that we understand the trade-offs we are making. We may then decide to take specific actions to minimize our environmental impact and protect the environment. There are many examples of people taking such action, and some of them will be discussed in the following talks.

  Dr. Margaret Beilharz

On Sunday morning, I reflected on my work as an architect and on my experiences living in rural and remote communities. I described how activities often linked to environmental damage (namely building development and farming) can in fact be re-envisioned and re-applied as human processes (or cultures) that are not only more ecologically sensitive, but also nurture social capital (or community) and the economy – thereby contributing to a more sustainable future. With slides to illustrate, I presented some of my past and current work in architecture and building, landcare and community development - projects with sustainability as a key focus. A few of these are summarised below.

Established in the early 1980s beside the Merri Creek on what was previously a bluestone quarry, then a municipal tip, the CERES Project was originally envisioned as a city farm (with community vegetable plots, orchard trees and farm animals) and a site for the demonstration of appropriate technologies (with a low-energy house and solar workshop). A generation on, through ever-increasing and ever-diverse contribution from community volunteers, dedicated staff, philanthropic trusts and various government agencies, CERES is all that we founding members imagined, and so much more. It has seeded inspiration for a comprehensive rehabilitation of the lower Merri Creek environs. It delivers a wide range of environmental education programs to both school kids and the general community. It actively embraces the local Aboriginal community and new arrivals from Asia, Africa and the Middle East, by supporting them and inviting others to celebrate their cultural richness. It hosts many wonderful events in music and the performing arts, culminating with the awesome and uplifting community ritual of the annual Kingfisher Festival (this year on 22nd November – a great occasion to explore CERES).

Ref: Memmott, P. (ed.), "Take 2: Housing Design in Indigenous Australia", RAIA, ACT. 2003.

Through the 1980s and early 1990s, I facilitated a number of self-help housing projects in East Gippsland Victoria, in Arnhem Land Northern Territory, and on Moa and Palm Islands, Queensland. These projects allowed community people to design their own homes, and so to again address domiciliary needs and aspirations that were meaningful to them (a freedom by and large surrendered to missionary and government "protectors"). With on-the-job training and modest financial support, families then proceeded to build their own homes, using materials found locally in the bush (stone, earth, anthill, bamboo and pole timbers), and adopting simple construction methods that were suited to the available community workforce. Certainly the low capital cost of this self-help approach allowed a greater quantity and more appropriate quality of housing to be built with limited government funds. But more importantly it generated new skills, independence and self-esteem. It built houses, people and community.

My family and I really enjoy a place in the country. Our few acres of rolling dairy hills in the Archies Creek Valley of Southwest Gippsland have become the site of much planting (vegies, orchards and extensive indigenous revegetation), and a self-built house which after some eight years in progress, should surely be complete by Christmas? In 1989, together with a few like-minded neighbours, I formed the Archies Creek Reafforestation Group. It was one of Victoria’s first farm tree groups. Our aim was to work with local farmers to fence off and revegetate land in the Archies Creek Valley. It took a few years before the benefits of first plantings (by way of improved stock shelter, creek water quality, erosion control, etc.) became clearly evident to the farmers. But this early work on the ground, together with other government sponsored landcare initiatives which began to gather momentum around this time, did in time have significant positive impact on local farming culture. Today, through enthusiastic participation of the farmers, city and country volunteers alike, the Archies Creek Valley has been reafforested, and a wildlife corridor between Westernport Bay (near Grantville) and the ocean (by the Mouth of the Powlett River) has been largely re-established. Native bird numbers and species began to multiply exponentially within only a few years. And now once again, wombats, echidnas, koalas and wallabies roam this place. The simplicity of planting a tree, and the good it does not only for the benefits described above, but also to counter our carbon emissions that contribute to global climate change, and in fostering goodwill and friendships between city and country folk makes a lot of the other things I do with my days seem relatively useless.

I had commenced my presentation by reflecting on my upbringing, in a family with a love for farming and the land, and amongst other adults of a Templer community that could hold tight to its membership with the imperative of enduring friendship and support in times and places torn by war. I concluded my presentation by acknowledging that it’s probably no coincidence that my adult life has drawn me to a kind of work that’s founded on many of these values.

I also expressed my concern that the Templer community and the Templer spirit can now no longer flourish simply by holding tight. Community building for the Temple Society I think needs to focus on:

Going out beyond our community and beyond our comfort zone, to people and places of need, where good work can be done (be it social or environmental), to sites of certain risk but also real reward.

Truly embracing into our community sensibilities of difference and the needs of strangers.

Such endeavours need not be viewed as a further drain on already exhausted community resources, but rather as opportunities for engagement, collaboration and pooling of resources with others - be they from issue-based community groups, philanthropic trusts, government agencies, or other small religious organisations. Together with the broader community, there are so many ways we can really be "making a difference".

PS: One simple, enjoyable, immediate and particularly satisfying way to make a difference might be to join fellow Templers and others in October for community-based tree planting activities on the Bass Coast and hinterland.

Paul Haar

After lunch on Sunday, participants discussed what Templers can do to ameliorate or reverse mankind’s damaging effect on the environment. Ideas ranged from simple things like putting collection boxes for corks in our halls and making bags of varying kinds to replace plastic bags, to a community garden in Bayswater, buying Green Power (power sourced from photovoltaics, wind energy or bio-gas) from our electricity retailers, and interacting with landcare groups to recreate more natural Australian landscapes. Individuals can install water tanks to collect rainwater from roofs and in other ways make their houses more energy efficient. We can visit and contribute to CERES, an organisation educating city people about the environment, join others in community tree-planting, contribute to or join Community Aid Abroad, and become members of the Australian Conservation Foundation. The participants agreed that the TSA should form a group of people interested in environmental matters to coordinate actions that the TSA could do. If you would like to explore such interests and be active in protecting the environment with other Templers, would you please let the office know. Rolf Beilharz

Wir gratulieren herzlich zum Geburtstag unserer Mitglieder:

und wünschen auch allen hier nicht angeführten Geburtstagskindern alles Gute und Schöne zum neuen Lebensjahr.

Monique Steller and Peter Hoffmann

Wir möchten gerne die Geburt unseres siebten Enkeles bekanntgeben:

NIKITA NIKOLAEVICH ROMANKIN,

Eltern: Nikolai Romankin und Veronika nee Arndt

Grosseltern: Wir, nämlich Guenter und Irmgard Arndt

Parents are invited to have their children presented before God and the Community in the Community Chapel on 12^th October, 10.15 a.m. Please contact the office on 9557 6713 (between 10.00 and 12.00 noon) ASAP for an application form.

Ed

Thanks to all the happy shoppers who supported our annual fundraiser. We raised $405 for Playgroup. We hope to see you all again on next year’s tour.

Kris Wennagel

On 26^th July, the Bayswater-Boronia Community had its Volunteer Thankyou afternoon tea. This was the committee’s opportunity to thank the band of helpers who assist at our working bees and make our task so much easier and to provide them with an afternoon tea of scones, jam, cream and rockcakes.

Then, on Sunday 3^rd August, we held our Annual General Meeting. A total of 75 members attended. The meeting ran extremely smoothly with a representative of each group giving an informed report. After the meeting, we were all treated to coffee, tea, scones, rockcakes and cream.

The three retiring members, Manfred Decker, Minnie Haering and Resi Schwarzbauer were re-elected. Elizabeth thanked Peter Blackwell, who unfortunately had to resign from the committee due to work commitments. On the positive side, two younger members, Heinz Vollmer and Petra Murrihy joined the committee.

It is worth mentioning that these two new committee members have already been active in the new community room. If you have not yet seen it, may I urge you to make a point of looking at it when you are at the hall.

For the benefit of those members who live further away, please allow me the opportunity to describe it.

The room has been totally refurbished.

The walls are no longer brown but are painted in a lovely warm yellow (sandstone colour).

The window frames and blinds are in a cerulean blue – which gives the room a real lift and seems to really complement the stained glass window.

The carpet on the floor is new.

The bench tops of the cupboards are also new and match the walls beautifully.

The table also has a new top to match the bench tops.

The billiard table has been moved into the section behind the concertina doors.

The ceiling beams (that made a lovely home for the spiders) are now no longer visible and a new straw board ceiling has been added.

The old shabby furniture has been removed and new comfortable Swedish design chairs have been purchased and a new couch will also be purchased.

A lock-up cupboard has been built to house the TV.

We are now looking at a heating system, so that the room can be nice and cosy in winter.

The committee is also looking at drawing up some guidelines for the use of this room.

On Sunday 17^th August another community working bee was held, and

cobwebs all around the building were removed,

the large plants on the south side of the German school rooms were removed in preparation of the planting of smaller and more attractive plants,

wooden benches were strengthened,

trees and bushes were pruned and mulched.

Again, the scones, jam and cream (frozen after the volunteer thank you) were served for morning tea and a barbecue was provided.

Thanks to the team of willing helpers who came to assist.

Before the Annual General Meeting, we were obliged to send out Proxy forms and Nomination forms, this meant photocopying these documents and then posting them out to all the members.

We had a wonderful attendance on Sunday 3 August 2003, 74 members and 10 proxies. The meeting started with the singing of the Temper hymn verses 1,4,6. It was a happy meeting, and we were especially pleased to welcome our former president of the TS, Dieter Ruff, after illness –welcome!

I presented my report in which I expressed my delight in the refurbished Community Room and thanked all the members who had helped!

It was with regret that the council accepted the resignation of Peter Blackwell and he was thank for his expert knowledge in health matters and for organizing the music for our functions: Sommerfest and Carols by candlelight.

Resi Schwarzbauer – our hardworking secretary was re-elected, as was Manfred Decker, our hardworking delegate to the Community Structure Working Party. Our committee has been able to welcome two new members: Petra Murrihy and Heinz Vollmer jnr. We welcome them with pleasure!

Tony Beilharz presented his report regarding the upkeep of the Ba-Bo property responsibility of the TSA.

The treasurer, Paul English, presented his report.

Reports on the various activities of our community were presented, all very positive. However all of them would like to see even greater participation!

German School Irene Bouzo

Playgroup Moni Herrmann

Tennis Club Tony Beilharz

Kegel Club Manfred Haering

Ladies Auxiliary Minnie Haering

Choir Uli Hapke

As there was no new business, the meeting was closed. I thanked our wonderful supportive community, stating that without the members, there would be no community! The members were invited to admire and experience the wonderful refurbished Community Room firsthand, and to think of how they may make use of these excellent facilities. Special thanks again go to Paul English, Tony Beilharz and Manfred Decker – they did a wonderful JOB!

Afternoon tea was served. Everybody enjoyed very much the tea and scones.

We felt at the end of our meeting that the future is there for us – the TSA.

Elisabeth Wagner, Chairperson

Annual Members Meeting Sydney 25/8/2003After sharing a few thoughts on a verse from the Gospel of John, attending members, 24 in all, were welcomed to the meeting.

1. Previous Minutes were read by the secretary Ernie Weller and confirmed as correct.
2. Correspondence: Letter from Mark Herrmann regarding the consolidation of accounts was discussed as was a letter from Mark regarding the Essential Service Legislation which means installation of Exit Lights, special hardware for door locks and installation of Fire Extinguishers etc.
3. The Chairman’s Activities Report was read.
4. The Treasurer’s Report was tabled and explained by Herbert Steller and questions answered as they arose. The auditor Alfred Meyer confirmed that the report was correct.
5. Alfred Meyer was re-elected as auditor for the year 2003-2004.
6. Klaus Peter Hoffmann resigned as Elder for the Temple Society also relinquishing his membership in the Community Council. Klaus was thanked for his work as former Community Chairman and as an Elder in the Sydney Community for many years.
7. Election of Committee Members: Re-elected to the Community Council were Herbert Steller (treasurer) Ernie Weller (secretary) Emmy Simmer, Manfred Schnerring and newly elected to the council, Johanna Steller.
8. Hartmut Beck was re-elected as chairman for a term of two years.
9. In General Business, the possibilities of Focus and Interest groups was discussed; it seems likely that the Frauenverein will be the first group to test- run the idea. Maintenance and repairs not carried out last year to be on the agenda this summer.

Meeting closed.

Our annual picnic on 12th October this year will be at the Nurragingy Reserve in the Melaluka section of the park. Bring your families and friends along, there is plenty of room for the kids to play, so bring all your ballgames, bikes etc. and enjoy a good day out.Our next Saal is on Sunday, 26^th October at 3p.m. with Kurt Beilharz         

Hartmut Beck, for the Sydney Community

Just a reminder that Horst Blaich will join us for the Saal on 26^th October and will present an exhibition about Wilhelma.

The Sydney Ladies Guild cordially invites all Melbournians to join them at their yearly bazaar on the 22^nd November.

Erika Schulz

Im August waren wir nur eine kleine Gruppe an dem kalten Sonntag Nachmittag. Wir hörten einen erbauenden Vortrag über das Thema nach Markus 7: 1-15. Wir wurden ermahnt, dass die "Form" nicht wichtiger sein darf als der "Gottesdienst", der Dienst am Nächsten.

Beim Nachmittagskaffee erzählte uns Berthold Tannenbaum von seinen Kriegs – und Nachkriegserlebnissen in Palästina. Das war sehr interessant.

Unser Nächster Saal ist am 26. Oktober im Tanunda um 2 Uhr. Dieter und Isolde Ruff wollen uns besuchen.

Die Frauen sollten sich für ihr monatliches Zusammenkommen bei Irene Severin treffen. Nach einigem Warten kam ein Anruf von Elsa und Anne, dass ihr Auto in Mount Pleasant "den Geist aufgegeben hat", und dass sie jetzt in einer Garage in Angaston sind. Kurz entschlossen packte Irene ihre Kuchen und Sandwiches zusammen, machte heißes Wasser, packte "mugs" ein und wir fuhren nach Angaston. Dort fanden wir ein geschütztes Plätzchen und machten ein Picknick. Das verkürzte die Zeit für Elsa und Anne bis Elsas Sohn vom Geschäft kommen konnte und sich den Autoschaden ansehen und die beiden Frauen nach Hause fahren konnte.

Rose Asenstorfer

Every couple of months Darkzone Laser in Box Hill have a midnight to Dawn session. The cost of these all-nighters is approximately $20-$30. We will be looking at joining in with one of the public sessions or if we get enough people, booking our own session, early next year. I would like to hear from anyone interested in taking part in one of these sessions so I can get an idea of numbers.

Bentleigh Hall, starting 2.15pm and followed by afternoon tea – please help us out by bringing a cake or plate to share.

We need lots of help with: contributions to the service, afternoon tea, setting up the hall, readings and presenting during the service and of course cleaning up

This is not yet finalized, so more details will be in next month’s Templer Record. I will also send out a copy of the program to everyone at home or on email, so there will be no excuse for not coming along to all our wonderful activities!!

Our whole youth program, from Kids’ Club to post confirmation, desperately needs your help. There are many small and some not so small areas that need people power to continue to function. These are:

This is just a very broad outline and within these areas there are lots of smaller tasks which people need to volunteer to take on. Without this volunteer help, we will not be able to get an adequate youth program up and running and whether we like it or not, our youth is our future – please help me invest in it!

Summer Camp 2004 will again be held at the Phillip Island YCW Holiday Camp from Friday 9^th to Friday 16^th January 2004. All children aged 11 years to Confirmation are welcome and encouraged to come along. You can also bring a friend or three!

Susi Blackwell,Youth Coordinator

HEY DUDES AND DUDETTES (have to be politically correct these days!!)

Hope everyone has been having a splendiferous September, although it really is a strange month. Some days it’s so nice that I start making plans for summer and all the stuff I'm going to do, and other days it’s all I can do to get up and go to uni cos it’s so damn cold! (Sometimes my bed wins. Clayton on a cold and windy day is about as appetising as brussels sprouts!)

I'm just recovering from a most awesome night out on Thursday – I went to the Monash Science Ball with a bunch of friends. There's something about good friends, good wine, sexy dresses and good music that makes for a funky night. Feeling a little worse for wear though on Friday. Might have something to do with the fact that I got home at 5am.) The point of this little story (yes it does actually have a point) was just me thinking about how important your friends are. It wouldn't have been half the night that it was if my good friends hadn't been there. I figure you're pretty lucky if you can count the number of good friends you have on one hand. It's worth thinking about anyway.

Despite the fact that Emma and I have finished school, I know I certainly haven't forgotten the stresses at this time of year for people in Year 12, so just a quick note of good luck to them – hang in there, life gets so much better after school!!

Okay, we'll love you and leave you now! Have a great month,

Luv Tania and Emma

Can you believe it, it is already spring. And last Sunday was Father’s Day. I hope you spoilt your dad. He is always there to look after you, isn’t he. Our next story is about God taking care of you, too.

Old men went to see Jesus. Children went to see Jesus. Young men and women, mothers and fathers went to see Jesus. Happy people, sad people, well people, sick people went to see Jesus. They all wanted to here what Jesus said.

Jesus saw the people coming, so he went up the side of a mountain. He sat down. "Look at the birds, they do not have barns to store their food, but God feeds them. And look at the flowers. They do not make clothes to wear but God has dressed them in beautiful clothes," said Jesus.

"You are more important than the birds and flowers. So do not worry. If God takes care of them, he will take care of you."

Son to father: "Instead of buying me a birthday present, why don’t you give me something you made yourself, like money?"

Why was the Egyptian child so confused?
His daddy was a mummy.

"What’s on the television tonight, son?"
"Same as usual, Dad, the goldfish bowl and lamp."

1^st boy: My dad’s played at the MCG lots of times.
2^nd boy: I didn’t know your dad was a footballer.
1^st boy: He isn’t. He plays in the band that comes on the field before the match starts.

Till next month, Moni Imberger

Es ist soweit! Unser neues Otto Löbert Heim ist bald beziehbar. Sie dürfen es glauben. Die Zimmerverteilung ist (beinahe) erledigt. Voraussichtlich wird der Umzug Anfang Oktober beginnen. Die neuen Wohnungen sind wunderbar hell und freundlich.

Zur Zeit sind der TSA 42 Betten und der AGWS 40 zugeteilt. Aber wir verfügen mit der Neubau Fertigstellung, über zwei weitere Betten (Räume) für Notfälle. (Diese Betten sind nicht von der Regierung, sondern vom TTHA finanziert/ unterstützt.) Somit wird sich die "Bettenaufteilung" wieder ausgleichen.

Seit Beginn unserer Spendeaktion im Juni sind $133.667 eingegangen. Ist das nicht wunderbar? So großzügig! Das dürfte aber weitere Spendern nicht verhindern, diese Summe zu vermehren. Speziell danken wir für die Einlagen, die wir über die AGWS bekamen. Es war eine beträchtliche Summe von $8.500. Allen Spendern möchten wir hier nocheinmal herzlichst Dankeschön sagen.

Der Frühling hat schon seinen Einzug begonnen. Es blüht ganz wunderbar in Gärten und Wiesen. Und trotzdem hoffen wir, dass so viele Teilnehmer wie möglich zu unserer Mitgliederversammlung am Samstag, den 11. Oktober 2003 um 11 Uhr, in die Bayswater Halle kommen.

Der Versammlung werden die Finanzlagen und Zukunftspläne des Tabulam und Templer Heims, einschließlich unserer 24 Kleinwohnungen (Retirement Villages Act) unterbreitet. Wir freuen uns auf ihre teilnahme. Also bis bald,

Friedrich Sawatzky, Präsident,

TTHA Management Committee

It is happening! We will soon be able to move into our new Otto Loebert Home. You may believe it this time. The room allocation is (almost) complete, allowing for relocations early in October. The new rooms are bright and very friendly.

Presently 42 beds are allocated to the TSA, and 40 to the AGWS. However, with the completion of the new building, we have two additional beds (rooms) dedicated for respite needs. (These two beds will have to be funded by TTHA as they will not qualify for government subsidies.) However, it will balance the bed allocation.

Donations received since we started our "Otto Loebert Home campaign" in June total $133,667. Is this not wonderful? It is very generous! However, further donations are, as always, still very welcome to swell this figure. We are particularly thankful for donations received via the AGWS amounting to $8,500.We herewith sincerely thank all our donors for their generosity.

Invitation to Annual General Meeting

Spring has arrived. Flowers are already abundant in gardens and fields. And yet, we are hopeful that many of our TTHA friends will attend our Annual General Meeting on Saturday 11^th October, at 11 a.m. in the Bayswater Hall. You will be informed of our financial situation as at the end of June as well as future plans.

This meeting is not only for TTHA dwellers, but includes 24 Unit dwellers. (These are incorporated in the Retirement Villages Act.) We look forward to welcoming you.

Friedrich Sawatzky, President,

TTHA Management Committee

NOTICES

Parents are invited to have their children presented before God and the Community in the Community Chapel on 12^th October, 10.15 a.m. Please contact the office on 9557 6713 (between 10.00 and 12.00 noon) asap for an application form.

Ed

The venue for the next meeting is Trinity Grammar’s Camp (Leppitt Outdoor Centre) at Lake Eppalock. Directions to the venue can be obtained from the office or from Linda Beilharz.

Soup will be provided. There are barbecue facilities and ovens for warming – bring something to share. We look forward to seeing you there.

Linda Beilharz

We are situated at 92 St Georges Road, Upper Beaconsfield, Melway ref 210 D10.

We have good shelter in our gazebo and provide tea and coffee. Please bring a plate to share and your own utensils. There is an extensive network of tracks up and down on our 2.5 acre property, a lake and lots of productive gardens interspersed and surrounded by ornamental trees and bushland.

All welcome Brigitte, Uli and Peter Hapke

Saturday 4^th October: Sarona History with Horst Blaich.

Sunday 19^th October: Music Program with Juliette and Geraldine Hughes.

 All are welcome M. Löbert

Anybody interested in playing night tennis competition for season 2004, contact Bob Löbert. Names to be in by October 18^th.

Also a reminder for those who haven’t paid their fees; they are due now.

Hella Edelmaier, Secretary

Our ladies singing group will commence practices on Monday, 13^th October at 8pm in the Bentleigh Hall. Please consider joining in even if you have not had much experience singing. We welcome new faces and always have a lot of fun.

We would also like to remind everyone that we need your help to make this afternoon a success. The bazaar is always special. To ensure it remains so, we need many people to contribute handicrafts. We would like to collect Gutsle (cookies) for packing again this year. Details re: food packaging requirements will appear in next month's TR. You may deliver Gutsle to the office in Bentleigh or after hours to Nanne Herrmann, 25 Catherine Rd, Bentleigh East. We will also need helpers to set up, serve coffee and tidy up. Please start thinking about how you can help.

Annette and Veronica

The next meeting will be on the 21^st October in the newly refurbished community room of the Bayswater Hall. Ursula Klink will speak, in German, about a historic charcoal kiln in Kurth Kiln Park north of Gembrook, and how participation in a small volunteer group can give a fresh focus to a lifestyle in retirement.

With lots of pictures and stories Ursula will tell of their involvement in the restoration/conservation of the kiln and its picturesque environment. This kiln is the only visible reminder left of the pioneering work Professor Ernst Kurth did with research into charcoal as an alternative fuel for transport.

Start13:30, everyone is welcome, Heidi Vollmer, for the Ba-Bo Ladies Group

Flower Roster 12^th October Presentation: Irmi Roscher, Helga Jürgensen

Everyone is cordially invited to the Youth Service and community afternoon on Sunday 26^th October at 2.15p.m. Please bring a cake to share.

The following ladies are rostered to assist on the day and are asked to be at the hall by 1.45p.m. to set up. Please contact me if you are unable to help:

Nellie Gabron, Rita Grubb, Ruth Haar, Rose Hahn, Dolly Holly, Erika Hackel, Trudy Herrmann, Marianne Herrmann, Hildegard Hoffmann, Renate Hoffmann

Helga Anderson

Saturday October 11^th George Bass Coastal Walk Revegetation

‘Tranceplant’ invites you to a day of planting along the George Bass Coastal Walking Trail, and on adjacent farmland. The Trail links the spectacular cliffs and secluded beaches along the wild and windswept coastline between San Remo and Kilcunda (near Phillip Island). Unfortunately most of the original vegetation has long been cleared, but regular community tree planting in recent years is slowly revitalising this landscape.

The Powlett Landcare Project invites you to a planting day in the Archies Creek Valley of Southwest Gippsland, to assist in the connective revegetation of wildlife corridors along the Archies Creek. This further planting on the property of Geoff Owens will build on the fantastic works done through the Archies Creek Reafforestation Group over the last 14 years. This will be the final major community planting undertaken this season through the Powlett Project and we would really welcome your participation.

Please contact Paul Haar if you’d like to come along and ‘make a difference’ on either of these occasions.

Tree planting is not hard yakka – a great activity for kids of all ages, as well as for elderly people who don’t mind walking up and down hills a bit.

After 3pm on the 26^th October, Paul will be especially happy to lead anyone interested on a walk through variously aged planting sites in the Archies Creek Valley, to witness the prompt, impressive and on-going role that nature plays in restoring ecological balance, following community based reafforestation activity.

Paul Haar

The Ba-Bo Advent celebration is on 9th December 2003. Please put this date in your diary. Everyone welcome! Elisabeth Wagner

It was a nice sunny day in Melbourne as we – Manfred Haering, Helmut Glenk, Irene and Horst Blaich – arrived at Charlotte Laemmle-Ruff’s house in Brighton. As we entered the neatly kept and decorated house Charlotte welcomed us with her usual friendly smile. We were led into the dining room where she had laid out her family albums, all neatly arranged in subject and family. What a treasure, what a surprise.

This was not the only surprise for us; Charlotte led us through the kitchen into the brightly lit family room where, behold, there was another surprise. To our astonishment a table tennis table was full of their family heirlooms, old books, certificates, old Turkish land titles, documents, driver’s licenses, passports, old gadgets like kitchen utensils, knitting and embroideries back to grandmother’s time and remarkably even some old coins with Arabic-Turkish writings. We stood there speechless, astonished by the enormous old historical collection any Historic Society would wish to have at their disposal for display.

Charlotte’s family collection took years to put together and even though most of the items went through one or two world wars, they were preserved and laid out before us. Thanks to the Laemmle and Groll families’ foresight, these items have been preserved in excellent conditions and will be seen in the future on the ‘TSA Heritage Group’ computer data base.

What a welcome to the treasures on the large table in Charlotte’s home in Brighton. The doorbell rang and Mrs. Agnes Laemmle, Charlotte’s mother, arrived to be interviewed by Helmut. Soon the tape recorder and the video camera were rolling along, the old stories from Sarona surfaced and Mrs. Laemmle’s revealing and interesting conversation was recorded and should soon be published.

In the meantime Horst photographed the items on the table with his digital camera. What treasures there were; we admired them for hours.

We had a wonderful enjoyable day together, and we like to thank Charlotte Laemmle-Ruff and her mother for the opportunity to view their collection and photographs¼ their long-kept treasures.

For some time a few people have sat together and planned what a ‘TSA Heritage Group’ needs to have and do to satisfy the demand put on various individuals who unofficially are working to satisfy the Sarona Restoration Project and the TS Heritage questions in general.

A proposal of creating a ‘TSA Heritage Group’ was put before Dr. Rolf Beilharz, Mark Herrmann, and Renate Beilharz on Wednesday 27^th August 2003. The proposal was accepted and ratified by the entire TSA Regional Council meeting on Friday 5^th September 2003.

We would now like to invite interested people and friends of the TSA to participate in our venture. (Interstate people are also welcome.)

Once again thank you to all the persons who have contacted us with additional information and personal anecdotes and experiences of Sarona. During one of our recent discussions with a former Saronian we were advised that there were two Sarona Lieder. The lyrics and music for both these songs were written by Carl Kuebler, the first one in 1919/20 (whilst interned at Sidi Bishr, Egypt) and the second in 1942.

We have a copy (music and lyrics) of the 1942 song but only the words (from memory) of the last verse of the 1920 song. We appeal to anyone who may have a copy of the 1920 song to please contact us.

From the Schumann Institute, University of Haifa, Israel, we were recently advised that Tel Aviv has now received recognition by UNESCO as a site of worldwide importance in architectural aspects. The restoration of buildings in Sarona is one of the significant preservation projects in the City of Tel Aviv at present.

We have been pleasantly surprised by the amount of information, including photographs, which we have been able to obtain. It is a huge task to now analyse and document this treasure of information. We have been working on the documentation for some time now. It is our aim to produce an authoritative book on Sarona at the end of this project. We therefore advise that the information collecting phase of our project will finish at the end of October 2003. (Naturally we won’t turn down any further information that comes to hand after that date.) After that date, however, we will be concentrating on finalising the Sarona Story. If anyone has any additional matters that they may wish to bring to our attention please do so during the next month. Our contact details are:

Helmut Glenk on behalf of the Project Team

The following is an extract of the address given by Manfred Löbert, Convener of the Friends group, on the re-opening of the hall on the 7^th of September 2003:

The spring season of events planned for the hall commenced with Horst Blaich giving a stimulating visual and oral presentation on the Templer colony ‘Wilhelma’, based on his extensive collection of historical photographs and on his ‘100 years Wilhelma’ photographic exhibition that was also displayed around the perimeter of the hall.

The hall was filled to capacity and the presentation ran well over time, so strong was the interest from the audience. The Wilhelma song was then sung to the accompaniment of Irene Blaich on the piano. Olga Kroh’s recollections of life in Wilhelma were followed by a session of questions and answers. Finally coffee and cakes were served, with the audience breaking into small discussion groups some of which were still going strong even after the clean up had started. We received $230 in donations towards the refurbishment of the hall for which we are very grateful.

The following heritage and cultural events will take place during October in the Boronia Hall.

LOCATION: Boronia Templer Church Hall,

Wadi St, Boronia (Melway Ref: Map 64 J-11):

Heritage - 2

Coffee and cakes will be available.

Culture - 2

Entry: $5 (includes coffee and cake)

After the success of last month’s music program, Juliette Hughes and Geraldine Hughes will again present a series of musical vocal pieces from various composers.

All are welcome.

If you are a young Templer who plays a musical instrument (or sings) or you have a young non-Templer friend who does, then we would like to hear from you.

We are looking for up-and-coming-talent, capable of playing one or two of their favourite songs reasonably well (air guitar doesn’t count), and who would be happy to perform in a small venue in front of an appreciative audience of fifty or so.

The event will be held on Saturday 15^th November at 2pm in the Boronia Hall, and you are of course welcome to bring along your friends for support.

So give it some thought and let us know, so that we can get a better idea of ‘what’s out there’.

Manfred Löbert, Convener of the Friends Group.

Rainer Maria Rilke

Rilke points out that children still see the beauty and the mystery in even tiny, ‘ordinary’ things that grown-ups tend to overlook. Jesus says that unless we become like little children, with open, trusting, appreciative and enthusiastic eyes, we won’t see the treasures and benefits of the ‘Kingdom of God’ way of living, kindly, justly and peacefully.

As spring comes once again, let us open our eyes to see the beauty of creation unfolding, and give thanks for the numerous blessings in our lives. These include the many Templers who, as you can see in the annual reports, put in much time and effort so that our Community can function as a creative network that supports its members and enhances their experience of life.

H.U. Editor

Why did God not answer the numerous prayers for peace and why did he not prevent the outbreak of the brutal war in Iraq? How can God allow 18 000 children to starve to death every day? Why doesn’t God stop evil, disasters and suffering? How can all the evils of this world be reconciled with God’s benevolence?

This question of God’s justice would not arise, if the fundamental power enabling and determining creation were experienced by us as nothing but an indifferent and crushing fate. But it does arise if we believe in the almighty God as the power of love. Then we start to ask how this Creator can stand by and watch so many of his creatures suffer beyond all measure.

The following alternatives might then come to mind: Either God is omnipotent, then he cannot be benevolent, if the world is functioning as it is. Or God is benevolent, but then he cannot be omnipotent, because he does not prevent evil from happening. But an impotent or only partly powerful God would not be God at all, but rather a superhuman heavenly being, a kind of angel among other angels, at most. "God", however, means the all comprising power of existence, the Wherefrom and Whereto of everything.

Biblical revelation, and Jesus Christ in particular, say: "God – the almighty God – is love" (1 John 4:16). This statement needs to be brought into accord with our experience of senseless, destructive and evil occurrences. Otherwise, our faith in God is in danger of losing contact with reality.

"God is letting-be", said the British Anglican theologian, John Macquarrie. The creator of all things and beings is the cause of everything that is and makes possible all that can be. But he allows for freedom in this. God allows nature and humanity room to develop freely. When someone falls ill or recovers from illness, this is the result of various natural forces battling against each other or working together, not so different from what happens in an earthquake or a whirlwind. When a war breaks out, it is because of the interaction of different, comprehensible factors. It seems that God does not intervene directly in what eventuates.

Freedom can be used responsibly and for the good of others. But it can also be misused for selfish or destructive purposes. This seems to be the price God pays for the freedom he grants, that it can also be used to do evil. However, it still remains a mystery why the world was created by the almighty and good God in such a way that so much darkness and pain in nature and humanity has to be accepted for the privilege of freedom.

Jesus’ cross is the epitome of what can happen when men offend against God and his love. On the other hand, it also shows that the power of God asserts itself despite the powerlessness he chose himself. In spite of everything, Jesus could not be defeated forever. He found his way into God’s ever-lasting Kingdom.

Can we still regard God as being actively present in this world, when at the same time we think of him as granting us freedom of thought and action, and nature room to develop? Or has he withdrawn from all worldly happening, in order to take up the reins again in a future Kingdom? Has he, in the meantime, abandoned and forgotten us?

If God no longer had any effect at all on what occurs, our prayer to him would, at best, just make sense as reflection, reassurance and encouragement to act responsibly. But there would no longer be the need to ask God for e.g. peace or healing – inner stillness would then suffice.

The extent of God’s intervention in worldly affairs and the means which he might use will remain concealed from us and would also be beyond our comprehension. But if it is true that "Yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory", then God is "somehow" involved in all the independent world events, in a way which we cannot understand and imagine, and is guiding everything towards his Kingdom.

After all, there are traces of God’s hidden action in our present. For example when we see that pride comes before a fall, as is described in the story of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11), or when we perceive the absolute call of our conscience – if we do not try to silence it – to act with love, justice, peace, responsibility and truthfulness.

God grants freedom. Therefore, many things can happen which are against his will. In many such cases we must admit that God did not want them to happen that way. By means of our reason, which is guided by his spirit, we can recognize God’s will for love and justice. Through Christ, who gave us freedom, we try to comply with God’s will as best we can. "Your will be done on earth as in heaven" (Matthew 6:10) – namely, through us!

The experience of senseless occurrences can be reconciled with God’s love only if there will be fulfilment in God’s Kingdom: "Nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39). God will have the final word, even if he sometimes seems to remain silent now. Otherwise, we would be filled with great despair.

Translated by Peter Lange and Herta Uhlherr

This kind of faith in a strong, loving, protective Power comforts and sustains many people and helps them ‘hang in there’ when times get tough. Sometimes it’s the only thing that keeps them going. Trust that, in spite of the way things sometimes look, ‘God’/ ‘the universe’/ the ‘creative lifeforce’ wants us to live and prosper and evolve into happier, more loving beings. Such faith leads to greater health, joy and well-being. In contrast, being filled with existential angst, doubt and cynicism is not conducive to good health and well-being.

We can (and do, though sometimes unconsciously) choose what we believe. We can keep trying to love rather than fear. Are our beliefs conducive to the well-being of ourselves as individuals, and of our community and society in general? Do our beliefs lead to a better world and a healthier social and physical environment? Questions worth reflecting on. H.U. Elder

Last night was the first time there was no black-out, and the multitude of lit up windows indicated many more houses than could be seen among the trees by day.

Divine service in the morning. At 17.30h. Mr Jone Frank held the short, moving burial service for Mr I. Steller. He spoke about the suffering of deported people. One hundred internees were allowed to be on deck for the ceremony.

Last night a newspaper was obtained – great excitement, as we’d had no news since our departure on 31.7. Hardly was the paper unfolded and the masthead read – Times of Ceylon – when a British sergeant ordered it to be returned to its owner. A protest to Mr Mansfield regarding the British MP sergeant’s behaviour – after all, internees were entitled to read censored English newspapers – proved to be of no avail.

Meanwhile, we were already on good terms with most of the Australian soldiers on duty in the dining room. The British sergeants, led by Mr Mansfield and Mr Turner, were in charge and tried to order a stop to friendly conversations, but without success.

It poured with rain and the sea was calm.

Food on board was miserable. The short supply of vegetables and the total lack of fresh fruit resulted in digestive problems. Food preparation was woeful – often too spicy. Sick people just had nothing to eat. Although the doctors prescribed special diets, these did not eventuate, or only in totally inadequate amounts, so especially children and the increasing number of sick people suffered. – Our mouths watered when we saw the Jewish auxiliary police eating green salad, tomatoes and fresh fruit. We called the frequently served rabbit meat ‘ kangaroo’.

Bullseyes were covered over again before dark for fear of attack by planes, U-boats or raiders (Kaperkreuzer).

Continuity of the TSA is one of the main concerns of its members and councils. I would like to see the Templer community go on and be there in years to come for my children and other future generations. The proposed new Community Structure for the TSA has reassured me that this will happen.

Whilst I have not been involved in any of the processes of the new structure, I have read the lift-outs in the Templer Record, I’ve talked to some members of the Working Party and I attended some community meetings where it was discussed. The first thing I asked myself after this was, "How well is the organisation going?" I confidently came to the conclusion that the TSA is going very well. It is clearly on the right path with this proposal.

Certainly there was a lot to read. It was challenging to visualise the practical implementation of the new concepts presented in the lift-outs. It was not easy to understand all the benefits of the proposed changes, the major one being the new thematic Focus Groups replacing the existing geographically-based Community Committees which have provided decades of excellent support for our communities.

My own varied experience in the workforce with massive organisational changes in large government bureaucracies, as well as in small NGOs (nongovernmental organisations) and the private sector, has lead me to firmly believe that the new proposed Community Structure is the right step forward and in the best interest of the TSA as a whole. I was reassured that it will retain the essential elements that made the operation of the TSA a success in Australia, such as the Regional Council and our community activities, here called ‘Interest Groups.’ I am particularly impressed by the proposed ‘Focus Groups’. Whilst it is too early to clearly conceptualise the tangible outcomes, advantages and obstacles involved in moving to the new Focus Groups, it is pleasing to see that they align with the concepts of non-hierarchical networking and skills-based teams, which younger people and those active in the workplace are accustomed to these days.

There is one aspect that has given me absolute faith and confidence in the new processes and structure. It is the membership of the Working Party. What a fabulous team they have been! The lift-outs and community meetings have demonstrated the thorough and meaningful strategic planning that has gone into the proposed Community Structure. The members of the Working Party have certainly won my confidence. We have benefited from their creativity, energy, their up-to-date working knowledge of organisational behaviour, and their dedication to the TSA. Their sound and thorough proposals show us that they care about the Templer community, its members, and how the organisation is run.

In further assessing the viability of the new structure I applied some of the fundamental characteristics that make small NGOs successful, because the TSA has much in common with them. The new proposed Community Structure is on the right track because it is aligned with these traits. Firstly, administrative councils of NGOs, like in the TSA, and unlike corporations, have the dual role of overseeing the organisation to ensure that the community’s interests are served; and at the same time its members play active supportive roles where they actually help serve the community in their own time. The new Focus Groups take account of this because some Regional Council members will also represent Focus Groups.

Secondly, both NGOs and the TSA derive their strength from approaches that favour informality, participation and consensus. In developing the new proposed Community Structure, the TSA has tapped into a wide variety of skills of people who have participated, often on a voluntary basis, but always in a spirit of friendliness and enthusiasm. This is often described as the most attractive aspect of a nonprofit culture. People also seem to have endless time and energy for consultation and discussion because they value and favour consensus. NGOs often have greater successes and achievements on a grassroots level than government departments because they are driven to overcome a scarcity of resources (time and money) through ongoing friendly, informal participation.

Thirdly, one of the greatest strengths of nonprofit organisations is the ‘passion for the mission’ shared by its members. The members of the Regional Council and its Working Party have demonstrated their passion for the continuity of the TSA by developing a new proposed Community Structure that is good for the whole Templer community, and they have tried to present it to us in so many different ways to help us understand it better.

Even if some members of the TSA still don’t fully understand the new structure, I urge all of you to leave behind any aspect of ‘micro-management’ or attention to small finicky details that might be hindering your final approval, and give it your trust and faith in the Templer spirit. Since the time of Chr. Hoffmann, Templers have valued consensus in decision making. Let’s continue this tradition by showing our support for the new proposed Community Structure at the next public meeting.

When I consider the new proposed Community Structure I can comfortably answer my original question and say, "Yes the organisation is going very well." I look forward to the stage where the new Community Structure is to be put into practice.

Irene Bouzo

As part of the Office Optimisation Project, the July Templer Record (pp 8-9) indicated two possible areas (membership and publications) for regular member input and task responsibility. There has been some response, for which we are extremely grateful, but we want to check whether there might not be more of you with the skills, energy and enthusiasm (not to mention the time and commitment) to participate and help.

Please refer back to the July issue for details of the tasks involved. For further information and to register your interest, please ring me at the TSA Office [(03) 9557 6713] as soon as possible.

During the month of September, Ritchies Supermarkets will again be doubling the usual 1% donation via the Community Benefit Card program to 2%. That’s ‘double dollar donations’!

With the TSA registered as their nominated charity, customers at Ritchies with a Community Benefit Card (obtainable for free) can help the TSA every time they shop.

Please contact the TSA Office if you need assistance in registering.

Mark Herrmann, Business Manager

Also note – TR deadline is the 18^th of the month. Late copy is a pain and may be held over.

E-mails and floppy disks can be helpful in saving us the retyping of articles. They are especially helpful if you use the Templer Record as a guide for headings, size and type of fonts and layout for your text (e.g. we don’t use underline, special line spacing or a variety of different or exotic fonts).

Text attachments should ideally be in 10 point Arial font (same printing as the body of the TR) and done on a Microsoft Word or WordPerfect wordprocessor. If you have a choice then accompanying pictures and graphic styles are preferred in the jpeg, tif, gif or windows Bitmap format, but we can also accommodate specific trade names like PSD, CPT, PPF, PCX and FPX.

You probably know yourself how much time can sometimes go into reformatting a computer file. We appreciate your efforts in helping us to produce the Templer Record in time for our publishing deadline at the end of each month.

Herta Uhlherr, Editor

This report summarises the activities, affairs and administration of the Temple Society Australia (TSA) during 2002/2003. It highlights the more important aspects of the year’s activities. All matters of significance concerning the Society and its members were consistently reported in the Templer Record throughout the year.

Members and Friends

In the year 2002/2003 the most important event for members of the TSA was the opening ceremony in which the new Community Chapel in Bayswater was handed over to the Templer community on 10^th November 2002. There were over 400 people present on the day. Most of these were in the chapel when the chairman of the building committee, Dieter Glenk, handed over the chapel to Dr Rolf Beilharz, regional head of the TSA. Dieter Blaich, the architect from the firm of Smith & Tracey, and Dieter Ruff, the project manager for the builders, the APM Group, were guests of honour. Other invited guests included Mr Haak, the president of the Australian German Welfare Society, Dr Schreiber, CEO of the Tabulam and Templer Homes for the Aged and the Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr Schwandt and his wife Dr Schwandt-Boden (from midday onwards). The ceremony included an address by Dr Rolf Beilharz, a children’s play with the message that the chapel needs us people to fill it to make it live, and an address by the regional head of the Tempelgesellschaft in Deutschland, Dr Brigitte Hoffmann. The ceremony ended with the Templer Choir conducted by Annette Wagner-Hesse singing two blessings and the Lord’s Prayer. Celebratory drinks followed and then lunch for all present was provided in the original Hall, enlarged by a marquee at the northern end. Some more singing by the choir concluded a remarkable and joyous day in which the Temple Society Australia had expressed its wish to open itself to the wider Australian community. There was a display involving pictures of many Templer families in the foyer, organised and arranged by Renate Weber. An open day of the chapel followed by a barbecue was advertised for 9^th February 2003 and a number of Australian visitors took the opportunity to see the chapel and learn a little about the TSA.

Another matter which concerned members of the TSA greatly was the listing by Heritage Victoria of the Boronia Hall in February 2003. The membership is divided into a majority having voted earlier to sell the property, because it was surplus to need and costly to maintain, and a small group of Friends of the Boronia Hall (Friends Group) backing the heritage listing. Differing opinions came into the open in February 2003, and opposing points of view were expressed strongly. The Regional Council (RC) is looking for a solution which will be good for the TSA as a whole and will cause minimum offence to members. Given the heritage listing, it has set in place a procedure to allow a final decision to be reached after members will have made their judgment based on considered opinions. RC remains neutral; that is, it is open to all members, while it facilitates members making the decision at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the TSA in November 2003. The Friends Group has been asked to prepare a proposal explaining how the Hall can be preserved, preferably with use by Templers, but mindful of the earlier recognition that many members believe it to be surplus to our needs. The regional head and other members of RC attend meetings of the Friends Group to keep both the Friends Group and RC aware of what is happening. Important maintenance to make the Hall safe for use has been authorised by RC and supported by a donation of money from the Friends Group. At the time of writing, the Friends Group was preparing a proposal to use the Hall for researching and exhibiting Templer Heritage, in full cooperation with Templer Archives in Australia and Germany and archives in Israel. The Hall will also be available for outsiders like the University of the 3^rd Age to teach classes, and for Templers to celebrate public and private functions. The Friends Group will use the time before the Extraordinary General Meeting to hold cultural activities in the hall (history of Templer Settlements in Palestine and musical afternoons).

From December 2002, a small RC working group and Rainer Busch (consultant) have worked on the TSA Office Optimisation Project. Over recent years, for various reasons and related to ever increasing government requirements in many areas, the work of the TSA Office has increased greatly. Mark Herrmann, our business manager, took on much of this increased workload until the situation became intolerable. The Office Optimisation Project is continuing, but has already successfully rearranged much of the workload for the business manager. The working group is now investigating the work of others (care worker and youth coordinator) and is also analysing the possibilities of using volunteers to take over some of the Office activities. After many years of very cheerful, hard work in the Office, Lore Schlender has recently retired. She deserves the thanks of all members. Irma Wesselbaum has been Mark’s part-time assistant during the period of Office Optimisation and has done splendid work in setting up a computerised filing system compatible with the archive. Marianne Herrmann has also worked part-time in the Office, since the time Mark was preparing to visit the TGD in May/June 2002. On the financial side, Mark and the community treasurers have moved towards combining all the finances of the TSA into a single structure, in which each community spends according to an approved expenditure budget. Together with the Central Fund, this will allow us to have a much better overview of the whole finances of the TSA.

The following five new members were welcomed to the TSA: Horst and Irene Blaich, Christine Herrmann, Martha Wansky and Peter Ware.

Seven children were born to members of the TSA, and we are aware of 4 further children being born to friends.

Seven members of the TSA - Liese Bilger, Hertha Ehmann, Helga Frank, Annemarie Graze, Trude Haar, Dorothea Kuebler, Margarete Weigold - died in Australia during the year. Three further friends in Australia also died: Helmut Aimann, Theo Gollmer, Walter Hoersch.

The following members or friends of the Temple Society died in Germany: Wilhelm Doh, Gertrud Friesen, Tilla Gaiser, Dr Horand Gassmann, Karoline Gnann, Helene Herrmann, Adolf Kaltenbach, Johannes Katz, Lisbeth Lohss, Fumiko Okuma, Erna Trautmann, Hans Unger, Dorothea Vorster, Siegfried Wessner. In Israel the death of Prof. Dr Alex Carmel marked the end of a long association between the historian and the Temple Society.

At 30/06/2003 the number of full members of the TSA was 592. This is 12 fewer than at this time last year.

The Regional Council consisted of the Regional Head, Dr Rolf Beilharz; the two Deputy Regional Heads, Mark Herrmann, who also is Business Manager, and Renate Beilharz (elected); the Heads of Community Councils, Ulrich Asenstorfer, Hartmut Beck, Monika Imberger, Elisabeth Wagner; elected members, Hermann Uhlherr, Harald Ruff, Gisela Schmidt, Ralph Richter, Heinz Vollmer (Sen)(until September 2002) and Rolf Glenk (from October 2002); the President of Tabulam and Templer Homes for the Aged Walter Burkhardt (until September 2002) and Friedrich Sawatzky (from November 2002); Community Youth Coordinator Susi Blackwell; and a Central Fund Director. Herta Uhlherr (editor of the Templer Record) and Helga Anderson (Community Care Worker) regularly attended meetings by invitation. The Regional Council held 11 regular meetings and 1 extra meeting during the year.

Alysha Murray was TSA auditor for the financial year 2002/2003.

Auditor for the Central Fund was Mr Keith Jopp of Keith Jopp & Co.

The Temple Society Central Fund (Aust.) again managed investments flexibly to optimise returns in what was a financially difficult year. Its business is being discussed in its separate Ordinary General Meeting.

Community Chapel: Building work on our Community Chapel at Bayswater was completed in September 2002. The official opening took place on 10 November 2002.

Building work for the enlargement of the Tabulam and Templer Homes for the Aged is continuing.

The vacant lot in Wadi Street Boronia (opposite the Hall) was sold at auction in November 2002.

We have moved towards combining community and TSA finances in order to optimise our GST situation and to simplify our overall financial structure.

Communication, Correspondence and Literature

The archive of the TSA provides a useful resource for persons interested in the history of the TS and TSA.

Correspondence from members and friends, and enquiries and requests for information from outside bodies and individuals in Australia, were dealt with as promptly as practical. A number of university postgraduates are currently researching aspects of the Temple Society.

Contact with other language organisations has been continued through the German Language Schools in Bayswater and Bentleigh. Both schools have healthy enrolments.

The Templer Record continued to be published regularly in 11 issues over the year. The bilingual character of the publication and its diversity of content, ranging from serious religious and philosophical topics to humour, were maintained. Following the wish of the Templer President, Peter Lange, the Templer Record and Die Warte now regularly bring a common leading article in English and German, respectively. Contributions from many members continue to ensure a stimulating and successful community effort. We value Herta Uhlherr’s work as editor, supported by relieving editors and proof readers, as also Alfred Klink’s contribution with computer layout and presentation. We also thank Moni Imberger and Anna Beilharz for the Children’s Section and Tania Richter and Emma Beilharz for the Youth Section, as well as other regular contributors. The efforts of those who help with collating and stapling the circular are also appreciated.

Die Warte des Tempels (the Templer Sentinel) is published monthly by the TGD in German. It provides information about the religious thinking and the activities of Templers in Germany. It is read by numerous members in Australia. The Warte is also available on the internet. It can be reached by a link from the TSA’s home page.

A very active group of Templers has continued the "Community Building" Project under the leadership of Renate Beilharz. This group considered what is the optimum structure for carrying out the activities of the TSA and has presented its proposals for new arrangements to numerous groups of members, refining its proposals from feedback received at every meeting. Its work continues until a final proposal is available which can be presented to the TSA for adoption. Adoption of new arrangements will require changes of our constitution. Instalments of a draft constitution have recently been serialised in the Templer Record. If members agree, the necessary changes to the TSA constitution can be made at an extraordinary general meeting of members, possibly in the first half of 2004.

Sonnwendfeier was celebrated in the afternoon and evening of Saturday 21^st June 2003. The combination of food, bonfire and a lantern parade through the aged care facility was enjoyed by many families with small children, including an increasing number of non-Templer families from our neighbourhood. The main proceeds of the evening went to TTHA.

After a series of 12 classes, a confirmation service for 17 young Templers took place in Bentleigh on 18^th August 2002. Renate Beilharz and five other elders taught the classes and contributed to the service. The confirmation was remarkable for two important innovations. Three young people from Queensland, and one from Western Victoria, took part in the classes using the internet, and by correspondence. Their interaction was strengthened by a pre-class camp for all confirmands to get to know each other and the teachers, and by Renate Beilharz visiting the Queensland group. The other innovation was the greatly increased participation of the confirmands in organising and taking part in their own confirmation service. A second camp rounded out the confirmation program.

At two Presentation services, one in Bayswater, in October 2002, and one at Bentleigh, in February 2003, a total of 7 children were presented before the respective congregations. A family service was held at the Kids’ Club Camp at Mt Martha in April 2003.

Regular Sunday School was held for the children of the Bayswater-Boronia and Bentleigh-Moorabbin Communities. The Sunday School children are present at the beginning of the main religious services on many occasions.

Our marriage celebrants conducted or contributed to a number of marriages. Our authorised celebrants are: in Sydney, Hartmut Beck and in Melbourne, Dr Rolf Beilharz, Herta Uhlherr, Theo Richter and Renate Weber.

Our elders conducted or contributed to 5 funerals in Melbourne.

Divine services, in English and in German, were regularly held by our elders at the various community centres and in the Tabulam and Templer Homes for the Aged. A Youth Service was presented in the Community Chapel in March by members of the last confirmation group. A Song-service was held in the Bayswater Hall on 14^th July 2002 and an Evensong-service in the Community Chapel on 19^th January 2003. Alfred Klink held a service with community discussion on 28^th July 2002 in Bentleigh, Renate Beilharz doing similarly on 1^st June 2003 in the Community Chapel.

During the year, the elders held 3 routine meetings and 2 discussion meetings where particular topics were discussed at length. Linda Beilharz facilitated a confidentiality workshop for the elders on 17^th May 2003. They also held a religious seminar at a conference centre in Kallista on the weekend of 23/24 November 2002. The topic was spirituality, and the contribution to discussions of Dr Brigitte Hoffmann from the TGD was much appreciated. Individual elders have also taken part in regular interfaith meetings in the Glen Eira South Ministers’ Association (Mark Herrmann and Dr Rolf Beilharz) and in the Knox Interfaith Group (Dr Rolf Beilharz and Alfred Klink). Both organisations are useful vehicles for the TSA becoming better known in the local areas of Bentleigh and Knox, respectively. In the Knox Interfaith Group, the TSA will give a presentation explaining the Temple Society to the group at its meeting of 6^th October 2003, and will host visitors in the Community Chapel on 10^th November 2003 to tell them more about how the TSA works and lives.

The Community Care Reference Group has met at two-monthly intervals. Its role is to facilitate Helga Anderson in her role as care worker and to monitor the effectiveness of the care being given for the TSA. A women’s health forum was held in May 2003. This attracted a large audience, with people from outside the TSA also attending. So many interesting presentations were given, that speakers were pressed for time and the total session was felt to be too long. Future such forums will be planned to be shorter. An afternoon tea for parents of children that had been presented in the previous two years was again successful. This is a lovely occasion for the parents and the children to get to know each other better.

The Sydney Community continues its active life, holding monthly divine services and various other activities. The Sydney elders are Hartmut Beck, Werner Ehmann and Klaus Peter Hoffmann. The community continues its association with the St Hedwig Homes for the Aged. In spending a few days in the Sydney Community in July 2002, Helga Anderson was able to include a visit to the aged care facility. Ilse Birkner, Dieter Ruff and Renate Beilharz conducted services in Sydney in September 2002, October 2002 and June 2003 respectively.

The Templer Group in South Australia has continued to hold regular religious services and other activities. Services are usually held by Uli Asenstorfer. Dieter Ruff (in August 2002) and Kurt Beilharz (in February 2003) conducted services in Tanunda.

Templers from "Country Victoria – Central North/West" met for services in July 2002 (Creswick), October 2002 (Rupanyup), March 2003 (Bendigo) and June 2003 (Strath Creek/Broadford). Coordination of this group has moved from Dot Ware to Anna Beilharz. The "Country Templers - Gippsland" met in September 2002 (Nyora) and in February 2003 (Phillip Island). The meetings of these country groups continue to be supported well by Templers travelling from Melbourne.

Youth matters: Susi Blackwell was officially appointed as part-time Community Youth Coordinator. Together with a group of younger people (Youth Activities Resource Group) she has provided many activities for children and teenagers from when they leave the playgroup to after confirmation. Monika Herrmann continues to run a very successful playgroup. Kids’ Club very actively provides for Templer families with young children. Recent highlights were the tree planting at Collingwood Children’s Farm and ‘Sparky Day’ (activities with an electrician), with the Mt Martha Camp proving immensely popular. Several camps for young Templers (children, confirmands, past confirmands) were held in 2002/2003. Regional Council thanks all the persons involved in looking after our youth.

The Templer Choir has contributed to all relevant functions of the Temple Society in Australia. The brass ensemble has also provided musical accompaniment and entertainment on several occasions.

The Australian-German Templer Exchange scheme between TGD and TSA for young Templers continues. Bernhard Hoefer is the coordinator for the TSA. Suzy Ware has returned from her stay in Germany and again teaches Sunday School in Bentleigh. Christine Klingbeil and Inga Reck from Germany came to the TSA and immediately fitted in to sing in the Templer Choir and to make music at appropriate occasions, as well as being leaders for our children’s summer camp.

Our many community activities were strongly supported by the efforts and initiatives of many dedicated members of our sub-organisations. Reports of most groups and committees accompany this report. Please read all of these reports so that they may also be taken as read at the Annual General Assembly.

Committees and Working Groups

Tabulam and Templer Homes for the Aged: Walter Burkhardt (until September 2002), Theo Doh, Traude Glenk (until September 2002), Mark Herrmann (until February 2003), Ernst Ruff, Friedrich Sawatzky (from November 2002), Hermann Sawatzky (from November 2002).

Community Care Reference Group: Helga Anderson, Linda Beilharz, Dr Rolf Beilharz, Ruth Haar, Mark Herrmann (until February 2003), Dr Geoff McCallum, Ursula Paton, Elisabeth Wagner.

Playgroup: Leader Monika Herrmann

Kids’ Club: Renate Beilharz, Susi Blackwell, Pam Edelmaier, Marianne Herrmann, Karin Williamson (liaison); Erica Megele (Teenage Group)

Sunday Schools:

Bayswater: Christine Ruff

Bentleigh: Suzy Ware, Dot Ware

Youth Activities Resource Group: Winfried Beilharz, Susi Blackwell, Mandy Etherington, Mark Herrmann, Bernhard Hoefer, Robert Kinder, Beate Kuerschner, Ralph Richter, Tania Richter, Harald Ruff, Bernd Vollmer.

Working Group on Community Structure in the TSA: Renate Beilharz, Tony Beilharz, Winfried Beilharz, Rainer Busch, Manfred Decker, Mark Herrmann, Moni Imberger, Ilse Nicholson.

Community Chapel Opening Committee: Helga Anderson, Dr Rolf Beilharz, Moni Imberger, Harald Ruff, Heinz Vollmer, Elisabeth Wagner

Community Chapel Uses and Practicalities Working Party: Tony Beilharz, Moni Imberger, Ralph Richter, Harald Ruff, Hermann Uhlherr, Herta Uhlherr, Renate Weber

German Schools:

Bayswater: Irene Bouzo (Coordinator)

R.G. Beilharz, Regional Head

Another busy year has passed and it is my pleasure to give this report.

I continue to work approx. 21 hours per week and my regular days are Wednesday and Thursday.

I am supported by the CCRG (Community Care and Reference Group) which meets every 2 months. For the committee members see 8.2 above. I thank this hard working group sincerely for their support. A special thankyou to Linda Beilharz, who braves the weather and traffic coming all the way from Bendigo for our meetings. In February, in line with the restructuring of the TSA administration Mark Herrmann resigned from this committee. We accepted his resignation with regret and thank him sincerely for his input and guidance over the past years.

Another restructuring change is that the TSA admissions to the TTHA are now the responsibility of the Care Worker and CCRG. That means keeping the waiting list up-to-date and the paperwork for the admission process in order. The demand for residential care beds has increased and, with our ageing community, the need will become greater. Until a few months ago, our bed entitlement was not fully utilized by TSA members. However, this has now changed and we occupy 42 beds. That means we no longer have first call on a bed vacancy as in the past and therefore, the waiting time for admission is becoming longer. At all times we do our best to meet the needs of our clients and I thank our community for their understanding and patience.

This year I have had professional supervision from Sue Lewis who is a qualified social worker and psychologist.

Together with Mrs Eva Roten from the AGWS, I chair the Residents and Relatives meetings at the TTHA. These meetings are held every 2 months and are an open forum for residents and relatives to ask questions and be informed on matters concerning the Home. It is now customary that the AGWS and TSA distribute gifts to Home residents at Christmas.

Wednesdays I visit the TTHA and do home and hospital visits. I help with taking residents to appointments, assist with Medicare or other paperwork, counselling and support residents and staff as necessary.

During the year I have attended workshops to further professional development.

The afternoon for new ‘Presentation families’ was held again in May, but this time in the Bentleigh Hall.

The cheery Telelink group continues to operate every 2^nd Monday afternoon. Our participants enjoy the session which enables them to keep in touch with distant, isolated friends. The Telelink support service is provided by Telstra through Telelink Victoria and includes my attending regular meetings with other Telelink coordinators. We receive a HACC grant to cover the cost of the Telelink service. Currently, the structure of the Telelink service is undergoing some changes. The service is in the process of incorporation and will be known as Community PLUS (Phone Link Up Service).

Two four-day outings were arranged since the last report. In October a happy group visited Marysville and in August they braved the elements to experience the winter in Bright.

Finally, I thank everyone who has supported me throughout the year.

Helga Anderson

Community Care Worker.

Wir bedauerten den Tod von Frau Marga Weigold. Uli und Rose Asenstorfer vertraten die S.A. Gruppe bei der Beerdigung.

Rose Asenstorfer

The Gippsland Templer Group had two Saal / get-together days in the last year. The Spring Saal was again held at Hillcrest Christian College, for the third and final time, in September 2002. Despite the fine spring weather, only a small number of Templers availed themselves of the opportunity to come together as a community in a natural environment that offered a vast range of resources for all ages. Prior to this Saal, we suggested that there might be more Melbourne Templers interested in coming if a bus / minibus were made available from the TTHA / Templer Village area. However, there was no follow-up of this suggestion to see how many Melbourne Templers might be interested. As such, only a few Melbournites made the effort to come and, interestingly, these were mostly the ones who had to travel the furthest! Many thanks to them for their community spirit and a very special thanks to Rolf Beilharz for providing a most thought-provoking Saal! We enjoyed a shared buffet lunch in the rotunda beside the lake before exploring nearby native heath lands in full, colourful bloom. Afternoon tea was held inside, around a very large dining table, which lent itself to a cosy group discussion.

Our Summer Saal was, once more, held in Cowes, at the Uniting Church, in February 2003. Again, numbers were small. Again, it was those from Melbourne who had the furthest to come who made the effort to join us! Saal was given in a relaxed discussion-style by Renate Beilharz, with help from her daughters, Ingrid and Lisa. After Renate had provided us with some interesting food for thought, we moved to the adjoining hall for a shared buffet lunch. Further discussions occurred during walks along nearby beaches and over cups of coffee in the hall. After a shared afternoon tea we dispersed to visit other beaches on Phillip Island or to head straight back home. Thank you, Ingrid and Lisa, for your help with the dishes! And thank you, again, to all who attended and supported efforts to keep the Templer Spirit alive in Gippsland, Victoria!

Marie-Anne Beilharz

It is worth noting that those who do make it to country meetings invariably have a wonderful, uplifting time of shared experience. Ed.

Over the last year, more and more use is being made of the TSA Archives housed in the Bentleigh Office. Also donations of important documents relating to Templer history are being made regularly, especially as some of our older Templers are moving into smaller homes, and wish to pass on the many and varied documents and records they have kept which relate to their work in the Temple Society.

While it is great to see such interest, the initial set up of the structure of the Archives and its database is not yet complete. A lot of work is still required to complete the task begun in 1998, to ensure that the facility is efficient and effective in the service it provides to Templers and interested people. Thank you to those who have assisted in continuing this work in the past year, small steps forwards will get us there in the end.

Renate Beilharz

This working party (see 8.7) of the Regional Council has been meeting regularly for the past year, working for the future Structure of the whole TSA community. Regular reports and more recently, special lift-outs, in the Templer Record have detailed the work of this group. Even though we have made much progress towards a new structure and constitution for the TSA, there is still a lot of work to be done, especially in three areas:

Any more comments and constructive criticism are welcome. Renate Beilharz

The YARG (Youth Activities Resource Group) (see 8.6) is presently reviewing the position of Community Youth Coordinator and conducting a critical assessment of my performance in this role. I have been operating in a paid capacity for almost 12 months now.

A "mind map" detailing all aspects of the position and grouping related tasks has been created. Presentations to groups within the TSA to explain the purpose of the Youth Coordinator and promote a youth focus are being considered.

The position of Youth Coordinator is still evolving and we (YARG and I) are working to establish it and make it more recognised. People – young and a little bit older – willing to help coordinate specific groups or organise specific activities for them are always required, and are vital to the continued success of our youth program. A reliable and regular support team will allow me to focus more on "coordinating".

Regular event participation and support assists in raising the youth profile within our community and is a positive endorsement of the direction we are taking and what we are trying to achieve.

Constructive feedback on the Community Youth Coordinator position and my efforts in this regard, is encouraged. Your input is welcome and valued, as we strive to enhance and further develop the promising beginnings shown with this Youth initiative.

PLAYGROUP – (see Moni Herrmann’s report below)

KIDS’ CLUB

Kids’ Club has monthly activities often coinciding with other Templer functions. These include making birthday cards, Winter Olympics day, working bee at Collingwood Children’s Farm, "Sparky Day", 2^nd Harry Potter film, Zoo Twilights, Sommerfest activities, a fabulous camp at the Briars, Mothers’ Day activities, Sonnwendfeier damper making, and lots more! All activities are spread across the Melbourne communities, as well as incorporating country Victoria when possible. At the moment Kids’ Club is running well, but the organising committee still consists of the same people that have been there since its beginning (see 8.4). For Kids’ Club to continue, there is an urgent need for new organisers to start taking an active part in the KC committee to ensure its ongoing viability!

TEENAGE GROUP

Teenage group also meets regularly on a monthly basis with varying activities like go-karting, rock climbing, pool visits, video and movie nights, games, fencing, Winter Sleepout, and lots more. Attendance varies from activity to activity, but everyone always enjoys themselves and the young people who have been coming along have got to know each other and become a closer group. Please try to support TG by continuing to encourage your young people to attend the activities.

POST CONFIRMATION ACTIVITIES

As much as possible our Confirmation groups are being encouraged to stay together and continue meeting after Confirmation. This can be best achieved with the help of a support person who helps with organising activities and getting everyone together regularly. Unfortunately our post confirmation groups do not all have this support person and desperately need one! If you can help with this, please let me know as soon as possible. Youth camps and weekends away have been successful in helping to encourage these groups to stay together. These young people have again organised and taken part in a Youth Service this year, which has now become an annual occurrence.

OTHER YOUTH PROJECTS

A volunteer list is being put together, of people (both young and older), who would be able to help out with various youth programs and activities, so creating a network of people to draw from when help is needed, and reducing the workload on the shoulders of currently just a few.

Youth leadership courses will be offered to interested people in the very near future, hopefully encouraging them to take a more active role in youth programs within our community.

Contact with other Youth Program providers continues to be extended in the hope of not only making the Temple Society more widely known in, but also offering something back to, the wider community.

Again I would like to thank the small but fantastic group of volunteers who consistently give their time and enthusiasm to youth activities; without you there would be no youth activities!

I also want to specially thank all the young people (and their parents) for making the effort to take part in our youth programs. I urge you to continue to take part as often as possible and I urge parents to encourage your young people to take part, because you are not only helping to build our community, but also establishing links that you may some day be very grateful for. Susi Blackwell,

Community Youth Coordinator

What a lively and busy group we have! Although our playgroup-aged children numbers are roughly the same, many babies, toddlers and helping grandparents are included in the happy mix and, when all families are present, we make up quite a contingent.

Thirteen families from far and wide, (Frankston to East Bentleigh, Malvern to Kallista), make the commitment to gather at the Bayswater Hall to share their Thursday mornings with friends. We have 16 children aged 2-4 years, almost all from Templer backgrounds. With many younger children and babies, our activities are adjusted to allow for these differences in need and ability.

Thank you for continuing to support our major fundraising event, the Shopping Tour, this year’s will be on Saturday, 6^th September. Kris Wennagel would still love to hear from any friends who would like to participate (see July TR). Thank you Kris for your faithful help. A children’s toys/fundraising session earned Playgroup several new popular toys.

On the subject of fundraising, Playgroup last year organised a special Pie Drive to assist with the refurbishment of the Community Room. My hearty thanks to Christine Ruff for organising this so willingly. This Pie Drive was highly successful, allowing us to donate $600 toward this major project, which has been a wonderful accomplishment.

We continue to organise our normal outings – the much-loved Fire Brigade visit, Chesterfield Farm and earlier this year, a delightful morning at the Knox Leisure Centre in Boronia. The newly built walk-in toddler pool with slide and fountain was a great hit. The Biggest Morning Tea and Grandparents’ Day have both become yearly events, giving pleasure on many sides.

There are possibly some changes afoot in our courtyard area. Through Mark and the TSA Office we have applied to the ‘Happy Little Vegemite Foundation’ for a grant of $2,000 to improve our outdoor play equipment. The success or otherwise of this application will not be known for several months yet, but it is envisaged that we will be making some changes regardless. Financially, we manage to balance reasonably – we raised the fees this year from $25 per term to $30 to keep us on even keel.

As you can see from the many helpers, nothing is ever done alone and I can’t praise enough the lovely group of families, grandparents included, for their participation, caring and friendship. Moni Herrmann

for the Playgroup

The completion of the Chapel and Sunday School Room in Bayswater, has injected new life into the Sunday School program. The children are delighted to have their own room where they are able to display their work and feel at home. What a wonderful addition this room is!

Thanks to our core group of families, there are on average around ten children attending, with classes held once a month in conjunction with services. (Always advertised in the Templer Record.)

This year our lessons have fitted in with special occasions, e.g. Presentation and Mother’s Day, or tied in with the theme of the service. The aim is that the children join the services for the first few minutes before leaving for Sunday School. The Elders have been most accommodating in this. In this way not only do the children get to know who the Elders are, but they also feel a valued part of our whole community.

Thank you to the parents and grandparents who continue to bring their children along. New faces are always welcome – you might even find a photo of yourself on the wall! Thank you also to those people who donated goods: books, beanbags, coloured pencils… more is always welcome.

Please come and visit us in the Sunday School room and please continue to bring your kids along. We have exciting plans for next year and would like you to be part of them. Christine Ruff

2002-2003 has seen the Sunday School of Bentleigh/Moorabbin continue to thrive. The teaching partnership between Dot and Suzy Ware has been quite successful as new ideas are continually discussed and explored in depth. This results in providing the children who attend with a well planned, informative, interactive and hopefully a fun experience.

On average, approximately 10 children regularly attend Sunday School in Bentleigh, but with each month bringing a few faces we see not so often. It is always great to see both the regular children and those who cannot come every month.

It is always nice to see the parents, grandparents or friends of the children come into our class room, too, to help the children, bring more knowledge to our discussions or simply view the activities the children are involved in.

I believe that the interactions between teachers, children and the community are of great value to the children. It brings support to the children in the work they are undertaking at Sunday School, exposes them to the wider Templer Community and assists in the transfer of knowledge between adult and child. This has been particularly important in lessons this year, where we have endeavoured to discuss our own Templer background, including our Founders and our individualised Cross.

Each month an activity is planned relating to the lesson which encourages the children to think about what was discussed in a fun and creative way. On occasions the children have been involved in the service, followed by a shortened lesson and activity which reinforces the teaching of the day in Saal. This experience is very valuable to the children; however, 3-4 weeks’ notice from the Elders to the Sunday School teachers would be greatly appreciated to assist us in our planning for this joint venture and to enable it to be a valuable experience for the children.

Finally, 2002-2003 has seen the children produce some wonderful and inspiring work. The children have always been a pleasure to work with as they show interest in the lessons and put a lot of effort into the activities. They are also a fun group of kids whom Dot and I enjoy spending our Sundays with. Thanks Kids.

Suzy Ware

Both German Schools belong to a Melbourne network of 200 After Hours Ethnic Schools, with 31,000 students learning 53 different languages. The Be-Mo school currently has an enrolment of 37students, with 16 of them from Templer families. There are 4 classes held in Bentleigh on Wednesday afternoons / evenings. The Ba-Bo school has an enrolment of 34 students, of which 15 are from Templer families. 3 classes are run on Friday nights at the Bayswater Hall.

We recently sold another 2 copies of our jointly produced booklet "Nahrung und Gesundheit", one to a teacher in Florida, USA, via the Internet.

The teachers from both schools have been jointly planning our annual excursion to Schwerkold Cottage later this year. Staff from both schools took part in:

The funding sources have been:

Future activities:

Future needs:

Many thanks to Doris Frank and Alfred Klink for updating the TSA German School website. You can look at this by going to

Irene Bouzo and Marianne Herrmann

The past year has seen Suzy Ware return from Germany. Suzy attended the Goethe Institute initially and then was hosted by local Templer families in Stuttgart.  From all accounts it went well. As Australian Templers are tending to speak less German at home, our more recent candidates’ knowledge of German is less than in the early stages of the exchange program.  Resulting from this is a slight widening of the language barrier, which may need attention in the future.

Christine Klingbeil and Inga Reck arrived from Germany in October 2002, attended the GEOS Melbourne School of English and stayed with several families, all of whom we thank for their efforts.  The two girls participated in numerous activities and were amongst the leaders at this year's Summer Camp.  Choir activities saw them involved in many Saals and rehearsals, which both they and choir members enjoyed.  Christine and Inga themselves initiated many day trips in and around Melbourne along with extended weekends away  in Victoria. Their English improved noticeably from an already good foundation and their stay provided them with a good Aussie and Templer experience. Next year we will be welcoming Andrea Mutschlechner who will be attending Summer Camp and GEOS.  She is the younger sister of Claudia (who was here several years ago and has now taken on the role of Exchange Co-ordinator in Germany).  Andrea will be arriving in early January.  We look forward to her arrival and welcome people willing to host her for any period which may suit.

As no nominations were received from Australia, there will be no candidate going to Germany in 2004. It is intended to send candidates to a local school in Stuttgart in the future, to provide activities for people whilst staying with their host families. 

The exchange is providing interaction between the two regions and establishing a network amongst the younger set.We hope to continue this valuable program.

Bernhard Hoefer, Templer Exchange Co-ordinator

Sadly we remember the recent passing of our past president, Walter Burkhardt. Walter dedicated a quarter of his life to the well-being and furtherment of the Templer Altersheim, and later to the combined Tabulam and Templer Home. He was a devoted worker for our older friends. During his presidency, he encountered enormous turmoil, anguish and worrisome periods. However, Walter, we must and will not forget your devotion for the betterment of our old and frail members’ welfare.

Last March we celebrated the third anniversary of our combined Altersheim and Tabulam. We noted the tremendous advantages a combined facility offers with the added economies of scale. There is now a lower emphasis on having to move to a "higher care level", which is psychologically and mentally devastating to the person concerned.

Dr. Schreiber and his hard working team are furthering strong cohesion between the Homes. They are visionary and disciplined. They have set themselves difficult, but achievable targets to improve the health, life expectancy and quality of life of our infirm.

At the time of writing, the entire management team is devoted to achieving a higher level of government accreditation, a level attained by only one other Aged Care Home in Australia. I wish them every success in achieving it.

In recent times we find Templers needing their full allocation of beds. We occupy 41 of the 82 beds available. Naturally, we also occupy all of the 24 independent living units, with four more planned for us "on the hill".

As a "new boy" on the TTHA Committee of Management, I am humbled by and proud of the efforts of our past and present TSA members. Let us thank Traude Glenk and Mark Herrmann for their enormous contributions over all those years. They have spent so much of their "free" time for us. Also, although still a TTHA member, Theo Doh deserves a special mention. He has been through a most health-sapping time, but he is improving.

Concluding, may I warmly appeal to all members and friends of our Temple Society to continue to adopt the TTHA as our Home, our place where our parents and older friends enjoy their autumn days. Please visit often and provide your love and support to them. F.H. Sawatzky, President

No huge interstate concert this year, but it gave us great joy to contribute to numerous Templer functions. The highlight was the Chapel opening. We thank Sonia Glenk for leading a number of us at the Christmas Saal at Bayswater, and a Big thank you to Annette for her continued effort in working with us.

Uli Hapke, Choir President

In March 2002, about thirty Templers formed the ‘Friends of the Boronia Templer Hall’ Group with the aim of saving the hall, preferably for continued Templer use. A small committee was formed and has met monthly ever since.

Since early this year Dr. Rolf Beilharz has attended these meetings as the link between Regional Council and the Friends group.

Following a lengthy process of submissions, culminating with a public hearing in February 2003, the State Government body ‘Heritage Victoria’ deemed it appropriate that the first Templer Hall in Australia be placed on the Victorian Heritage Buildings Register. This means that, irrespective of its ownership, the hall must be preserved.

The Regional Council subsequently agreed to engage a builder to carry out essential repairs so that it would be safe to allow access to the hall. The repairs were completed in August and a working bee was held to clean up the hall and surrounds. (See picture page 32). This will enable the Friends Group to test some future use options, one being the use of the hall by the Knox University of the Third Age. Negotiations are proceeding with Knox U3A to have them use the hall for some of their term IV classes.

We also want to breathe some Templer life back into the hall, and to this end a program of special heritage and cultural events will be held in the hall between September and December this year (see details page 39). It is an intimate hall that is now available again for family functions etc.

Details of our preferred longer-term use option for the Boronia Hall will appear in the October TR. It has also been suggested that we may like to give an outline of this option at the conclusion of the formal proceedings at the up-coming AGA on Sunday, 5^th October.

An extraordinary AGA has been called for 22^nd November to allow full discussion of the Friends’ proposal and ultimately for a vote to be taken on it.

Wir gratulieren herzlich zum Geburtstag unserer Mitglieder:

Jutta und Brian; Sigrid und Familie; Erika Goetze

Peter Schwarzbauer and Joyce Zara

Thank you to all our family and friends for their thoughts, prayers, care and support leading up to the birth of Grace Johanna. We have received an overwhelming number of cards and gifts and would like you all to know how much we appreciate your sharing our joy. Jacki, Heinz and Amara Wagner

We wish to officially welcome Paul English and hope he continues to feel at home amongst us. We thank Paul for his continued contribution to the TSA and the Bayswater-Boronia Community.

Am Montag, den 11. August, um 9 Uhr morgens versammelten sich 19 begeisterte Busreisende erwartungsvoll beim Altersheim, den Bus mit noch einigen Mitreisenden aus Bentleigh erwartend. Dieser traf dann auch bald ein mit Helga Anderson, unserer Reise-leiterin,  Alma Schulz und Irene Eppinger,  zusammen mit unserem jungen Busfahrer Glen.  

Sigrid Dreher

SYDNEY

We were very fortunate to have Elders from Melbourne conduct our Services for two months in a row. On Sunday 27^th July it was the turn of our former Chairperson, Ilse Birkner, to address us. It is hard to put into words how much we value the special efforts of our friends from Melbourne in coming all this long way to hold the service for us. All we can really do is to thank them and to hope that they feel right at home among us. This is especially appropriate in Ilse’s case, who made friends of all of us during her long association with our Community as Secretary, Chairperson of the Sydney Community and the Frauenverein (ladies guild). Ilse, your address was thought-provoking and uplifting and we thank you for it.

Before he flew out to America, Hartmut Beck asked me to deputize for him during his absence. Now I know that I was not elected deputy chairman, but I could hardly refuse, given that I promised him my support on the day he took office. He will be back in time to conduct the annual members meeting on 24. 08. 2003, which will be over before you receive this Templer Record.

Please plan to attend our picnic at Nurragingy Reserve on 12^th October. See Aug TR p.20.

Klaus-Peter Hoffmann, for the Sydney Community

Sun. 26^th October Saal & 100 years Wilhelma Exhibition

Erni Weller

Every couple of months Darkzone Laser in Box Hill have a midnight to dawn session. The cost of these all-nighters is approximately $20 - $30. I would like to hear from anyone interested in taking part in one of these sessions. At the moment I am looking at October, November or December, but I will have to book a date soon, because these are very popular sessions, so please let me know if anyone is interested.

Monday 22^nd September – Teenage Group Wave pool day:

September second week of school holidays – I am organising a 3 or 4 day Youth Camp, possibly at Phillip Island, during the second week of the school holidays. This will be for anyone aged 14 and up so please ring or email me if you are interested and I will let you know more details.

This will be an afternoon service in the Bentleigh Hall. Anyone interested in taking part or helping in any way please contact Theo Richter. There are already many helpers on the list – we’ll let you know who you are!!

Susi Blackwell, Youth Coordinator

how’s everyone holding up? Looking forward to spring, cos I know I sure am.
Ok. This month I have something that is really, really irritating me. I know you are all probably thinking here we go again, the whole world probably irritates this girl, and at times it does.

Now the internet is quite a useful tool for researching and communicating with friends and family, however I have come across the fact that young males like to use it as an outlet for their high testosterone levels. I did a bit of research into how easy it can be for them. When it comes to getting a "hot chick’s" e-mail address, that isn’t too hard. There are many ways in which an address can be obtained:

Once these young males have obtained your e-mail address the harassing will start. People can easily disguise their age, location and other details or even make them unknown to make it harder for you to track them down. These males usually start off being fairly friendly towards you. Phrases such as "hi, how r u," "wat u been up 2" are quite common. Once they have you nicely tenderised, they go in for the kill "what are you wearing?" Wait on, what’s going on here, I was merely commenting on how great my day was and now I’m being asked what I’m wearing? Next they’ll be asking me what size undies I wear, what turns me on and whether I’d be willing to… Trust me, it’s happened to me before and lucky for me it was easy to get rid of them. Sure you could answer all their questions, if you wanted to. But my simple but effective technique is to tell them: although it says I’m 18, I’m really 63 and have 6 grandchildren, grey hair, I clip my nasal hair and have false teeth, now do you want me to answer those questions?

So all you chicks out there, if some pushy young male keeps annoying you, don’t slide down to their level, create your own higher, more mature level. Have fun and stay safe.

Many Happy Birthday wishes for September to: Sonja Daross; Aidan Steller and Jessica Blackwell.

Love and kisses, Emma and Tania (Youth Eds)

I hope you have all been well and healthy. In our household we have had the dreaded gastro bug coming and going as it pleases. Every day someone else is sick or becomes sick again. I have had enough! Our next story is about Jesus healing sick people. I wish he could come and heal our household.

Crowds of people went to see Jesus. They listened to him teach. He even healed the sick people. One day, Jesus was teaching inside a house. There were so many people that the house was full. Four men came with their friend who could not walk. They had carried him on a little bed. But they could not get to Jesus, the house was so full.

That did not stop them. There were some stairs to get up on to the roof. They took some tiles off the roof and made a hole. Then they let down their friend, right through the roof, right in front of Jesus.

When Jesus saw the man, he said, "Get up and walk," and the man stood up. He walked home praising God. Everyone else was amazed. They thanked God, too.

Here are some Doctor jokes for all our sickies out there.

Patient: Doctor, Doctor, I feel like a dustbin.
Doctor: Don’t talk rubbish.

Patient: Doctor, Doctor, I get a stabbing pain in my eye every time I drink a cup of tea.
Doctor: Have you tried taking the spoon out of the cup?

Patient: Doctor, Doctor, I simply cannot get to sleep at night.
Doctor: Try lying on the end of your bed – you will soon drop off!

Patient: Doctor, Doctor, I was playing my flute when suddenly I swallowed it.
Doctor: Well, look on the bright side. It could have been a grand piano.

Patient: Doctor, Doctor, I keep feeling invisible.
Doctor: Well, park yourself over there!

Till next month, Moni Imberger

Francesca Beilharz
Blair Gavin
Kirrily Simmer
Yolanda Krockenberger
Karla Wade
Stephanie Brown
Monty Weller
Jessica Weller
Lachlan Glenk
Charlotte Breisch
Kelilah Breisch

and hello to Virginia Klink.

TTHA

Our Committee President Friedrich Sawatzky has taken a short holiday and asked me to write our TTHA letter for this month.

The present situation is not all that different, we still need help from donations or loans, all contributions are most welcome. Larger sums can be deposited just like normal savings in the TTHA Development Fund where they earn interest and can be withdrawn at any time. For further information please contact Dr. Schreiber.

I take the opportunity to inform members that our next Annual General Meeting is to take place on Saturday October 11^th, 2003 at the TSA Bayswater Hall, 41A Elizabeth Street Bayswater.

All members of the TSA and the AGWS are welcome. A copy of the Financial Report will be available by calling the TTHA Office.

Yours sincerely, Walter Schuetz, Vice-president TTHA

NOTICES

Please note that the service in Bayswater for September is an Evensong service starting at 5:00pm on Sunday 7^th September in the Chapel. A warm invitation to all who enjoy singing or listening to hymns is extended by Herta Uhlherr and Annette Wagner-Hesse.

After the service, all are welcome to stay on for an informal discussion.

Country Vic Gippsland – please note the shift from 28^th Sept to 2^nd November. Details next month.

Parent are invited to have their children presented before God and the Community in the Community Chapel. Please contact the Office on 9557 6713 between 10:00 and 12:00 noon, or leave a message, to get an application form. Ed.

The Confirmation Information and Discussion Evening planned for Friday 8^th August was cancelled after discussions with the families who had booked to attend. It became clear that most families favoured delaying the confirmation for another year i.e. until 2005. In most cases this was because they felt their child was still too young. As a consequence, the next Confirmation in the TSA will be conducted in 2005, probably starting in April, and culminating in the Confirmation Service in August.

Harald Ruff, for the teaching Elders.

Next meeting Tuesday 16^th September at 1:30pm. Heidi Vollmer will tell us about the release of bilbies they witnessed.

Our August meeting could not take place in the community room because the plumbers came to connect the gas for heaters. So we shifted to the Altersheim lounge (beautifully cosy and warm). We thank the Altersheim sincerely for making us welcome at such short notice. Erica Wagner’s talk about editing and publishing books was very stimulating, and was received with great interest.

Herta Uhlherr, for the Ba-Bo Ladies

7^th Sept Evensong Rita Steller, Erika English

13^th September at the Bayswater Hall. Please

come to a wonderful night!

It’s almost time to start thinking about our Advent program again. The Advent Celebration takes place on December 7^th in Bentleigh. Practices for our female singing group start in mid October, probably on Tuesday evenings in Bentleigh. If you have any suggestions or queries, please phone Veronica Rutowicz or Annette W-H. As always, we rely on your support and look forward to seeing you and any new, brave singers whom you can muster!

(PS We try not to be scary!) Annette and Veronica

The Friends of the Boronia Templer Hall have organised a series of events to mark the re-opening of the Boronia Hall. There will be three Heritage and three Cultural events over the months of September, October and November.

Location: Boronia Templer Hall, Wadi Street, Boronia. Melway Map 64 J-11

Time: 2:00-4:00pm

Speaker: Horst Blaich

Horst Blaich is well known as a Templer history researcher and has spent the last 20 years compiling a database of documents, photos and artefacts and compiling several family trees. He assembled the "100 years Wilhelma" pictorial exhibition that is currently on display in the Community Chapel. That display will be travelling to Israeli researchers and has amassed a staggering amount of material.

On the day, donations towards the restoration of the Hall will be greatly appreciated. Coffee and cakes will be available. Come along and learn about our heritage! This day is the 46^th anniversary of the opening of the Boronia Hall in 1957.

Music Program: Hildegard von Bingen – Schubert – Schumann – Mozart

Juliette Hughes and Geraldine Hughes come from a family of singers. All their siblings and parents have sung professionally at various times. They have studied classical singing at the Victorian College of the Arts and Opera Victoria. From February through to December of 1998, the group Viriditas that Juliette started, performed the entire works of Hildegard for the 900^th anniversary of Hildegard’s birth. They will also be performing some well known classical favourites and will be accompanied by pianist Bill Canty.

Entry: $5 (includes coffee and cake).All are welcome.

OPEN DAY – Bentleigh/Moorabbin Community & Tennis Club

So that you can mark it in your calendar – we will be holding an OPEN DAY. It will start with a service and Sunday School at 10.15am as per normal. Then the Be/Mo Community Council will provide you with a yummy sausage sizzle in the gardens behind the Office. This will be followed by a Round Robin Tennis Match for those who feel up to it. (Those who don’t can be the judges, scorers and spectators). And to finish the day there will, of course, be Kaffee and Kuchen.

Be/Mo Community & Tennis Club Committees

Just a reminder that it is not too late to order photos from the beautiful selection of photos taken by Heidi Wied of the memorable Chapel Opening. The photos can be viewed at the Office. Please contact Helga Anderson.

You are all invited to a Family Camp to be held at Bournda National Park near Merimbula.  The camp will be fully catered and accommodation will be of the BYO style i.e.. tent, caravan, swag or whatever takes your fancy.  The camp is located within a national park with limited services available but plenty of everything at nearby Merrimbula, Tathra or Bega.

There are all types of beaches from lagoon to river to surf.  Plenty of bushwalks, four wheel drive tracks, sightseeing or loads of nothing if that is all you want to do. If you are remotely interested or just want to know more, then please ring asap either:

John Barnard or Winfried Beilharz anytime.

Practical ideas and strategies for helping parents to help their children in the home and in the community to learn and maintain their ethnic language and culture.

Conducted by University of Melbourne Research Unit for Multilingualism and Cross Cultural Communication headed by Prof. Michael Clyne.

This seminar is being held in three regions to allow parents better access:

All sessions are from 1.30pm - 5.30pm

For more information, including topics for discussion and presenters as well as registration forms, please contact me at the TSA Office on 9557 6713.

Marianne Herrmann

THE HERITAGE PAGE

This last month has been very productive with several responses from the members of the Temple Society. We were able to interview a number of people with valuable information on life as it was in Sarona. We received a number of interesting photos, which were returned within days, after scanning them on to the computer, but we are still in the hunt for more interviews from younger persons who were then in their teens, hopefully with photos. Your knowledge is also vital for this project.

Manfred Haering will be in Sydney for a short time for the 65^th Reunion to be held on 20^th -21^st September in Meadowbank, so if anyone from the Sydney Templer Community can help on the Sarona project, please contact Manfred, as a last resort on his mobile phone. If you can assist, please contact either:

May I just remind the young and the old what a wonderful history we as Templers have. Our heritage from the hardworking Black Forest people mixed with the dedicated will to succeed as Templer Pioneers. Do you know where your great-grandfather was born, where he lived and when he moved to the Holy Land with Christoph Hoffmann and G.D. Hardegg? Which settlement did he help to build up?

These facts about your family are worth writing down. Have you written your life story and/or the ones about your parents? Do it while there is still time to ask them! How often have you heard the phrase "If only I had listened to my parents, grandparents and relatives while they were still alive". I am sure each one of us could have expressed that phrase some time or another in our lives.

I encourage you to sit down with your parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles and talk about their lives and record it at least in written form – better still on tape recording. A good friend, Helmut Glenk, with whom I have been working closely on the Sarona project, interviewed his parents approximately 29 years ago. He did this whilst they were still in good health and of sound mind. He used a simple tape recorder to record their life experiences and now, years later he is listening to the tapes again as part of our documentation of the Sarona history. He said how pleased he is to have done this and how sorry he is that he didn’t do the same with his grandparents. He mentioned to me what a feeling it is to hear his parent’s voices on tapes, it is as if they were right next to you again. He also said how many more questions he would ask them now. Nevertheless a success story Helmut – congratulations.

It was in 1964 when I realized that I could not find any personal writings about my grandfather, Sebastian Blaich, apart from some signed documents (Land purchase of Betlehem near Haifa in 1906, etc.)

I do not want my grandchildren to say: " We cannot find any writings of grandfather" in years to come. One needs to act while alive. This prompted me to write every day. My personal diaries, journals and letters now include over 40 volumes. When I see all these volumes, plus research and genealogical papers, stacked up in my bookshelves, I have a good feeling. I thank God for having given me the opportunity and skills to record my family history. Certainly my grandchildren will have some material to read, study and ponder. I trust this will contribute to our family unity and understanding what we as first generation Australians have thought and experienced.

May I again urge you to consider starting, if not already started, or continuing to record your life and the lives of your parents and your family at large, and publish a small booklet among your relations and friends.

The TGD Archive in Stuttgart and TSA Archive in Bentleigh are interested in all you may have in writings, even if only handwritten, as well as any old and new photographs (preferably with names and dates).

Horst Blaich

From Sonnengesang, the ‘meditations’ of Johannes Kuhn on writings of praise by St Francis of Assisi.

Thank you, Lord,
for people who do not follow the law of vengeance.
For those who embody the spirit of Jesus,
and live what he brought into the world:
forgiveness.

Forgiveness is the glue that holds the world together.
People who forgive
participate in the new life
that you give.
Being patient and controlling your temper gets you further
than rushing into fights.
Thank you, Lord!

(based on Proverbs 16:32).

Francis of Assisi was a great example of living with ‘reverence for life’. He took care of people and our fellow creatures; birds and animals were attracted to him – a gentle and peaceful man. Editor

‘To follow in the footsteps of Jesus’ usually requires a change in our attitude to life and the way we live.

Jesus’ response to these close followers seems very blunt. It was a warning against getting carried away by enthusiasm, because following his teaching requires commitment and spiritual growth. There is only one way to find perfection, to find God. That is to practise the twin commandments of love – this, as we know, is not easy.

Apart from that, Jesus did not give us a plan of action, or a code of ethics, certainly not a program of reforms. But he challenged the clamour of our ego and encouraged us to free our elbows and our shoulders from the urge to push and shove, and to soften our hard, unyielding attitudes.

To the first man, Jesus says that where he goes there will be no comfort, nor even a place to rest safely. – He asks us to test ourselves, whether we feel strong enough to survive under such conditions.

Jesus’ reply to the second man seems even harsher. The burying of one’s father or mother was possibly a son’s most important and legitimate family obligation, not one to be delegated. In normal circumstances, it is good and commendable to perform family obligations, whether in life or death. This is very natural, and most see it as being in the spirit of God’s will. I don’t believe Jesus is telling us to abandon our dear ones. But should we feel the call to grow spiritually, to seek the Kingdom of God, then that must come first and take precedence over everything else, including natural family ties, if these would hold us back from developing the more enlightened attitudes and behaviour necessary for our spiritual growth.

Remember here the twin commandments of love. While family and neighbours will be very much in the forefront of our thoughts and actions, we are urged to love them ‘as ourselves’, i.e. not more than our inner growth and development towards ‘loving God with all our being’ and doing what that requires. It is a wise insight that we cannot keep up loving our neighbour and honouring what others want of us, if we do not also love ourselves by honouring our own integrity, the ‘spirit in our personal temple’ calling us to become more and more like our great example, at one with ‘our Father’ and all creation. That is how I understand Jesus’ replies to his followers.

While we see Jesus as fully human, he demonstrated that he and we have a spiritual nature. But we can only see the spiritual content in the life of Jesus if we believe that there is a spiritual side to life. That Jesus was a very special human being, who embodied the divine spirit, should not discourage us from striving to grow more enlightened, like him. Western society’s general attitude is incompatible with this aim, but that should not stop us from embarking or continuing on the spiritual path. The spirit of God dwells within us. We can use its power to do good in everyday, ordinary situations, acting compassionately and in accord with our conscience.

Following Jesus in this way will have a great influence on and determine our lives, and will remain a daily challenge for each one of us.

Herrmann Ralph Uhlherr, Elder

31^st July 1941, morning. Empty wooden third-class railway carriages waiting, guarded by self-important Jewish auxiliary police under British police sergeants. At 11:00 the first internees from Camp 1 Masra’a arrived by bus, most having already suffered 23 months’ internment. Around 12:00, buses arrived with families from Camp II, Waldheim, and Camp III, Betlehem, everyone carrying baskets and suitcases. A charming German girl handed out exceptionally beautiful grapes, grown by hard-working German farmers in a foreign land that had become their second home since their grandfathers’ time. No one showed sadness, although they had had to leave their homes and properties, and their future was most uncertain. All were sure Germany would win the war.

Around 13:00, the train started to move, past Haifa’s harbour, to Egypt? 18:30 – stop in Lydda. More internees came on board – 9 buses full of families had left Sarona (Camp IV) at 17:00. People from Camp V Wilhelma, and Camp VI, Flagelation Jerusalem and Camp 13 Bath Jam [?] were already on the train. Many from camps 6 and 13 were happy to be reunited with family members they hadn’t seen since the war began.

Apart from some hand luggage, each adult was allowed to take 40kg and each child 30kg; all the rest that they had worked so hard to acquire had to be left behind.

19:00 – Depart Lydda, via Gaza through the Sinai Desert – dreadfully hot in the compartments, especially when the windows were shut. Protests. A tiny crack was allowed to be open. Round midnight, stop among palm trees. Cries for water, but none available.

1.8.41, 6:00 – Arrival in Kantara, due east of the Suez Canal, Breakfast. Hand luggage transported across to the west side and tossed in 3 heaps. Internees ferried across the Canal, desperate search for their belongings; they needed their food and blankets for the journey, whose length and destination no one knew.

11:00 – Travel to Ismailia, a pretty garden town. 12:00 – cries for refreshments. Arabs offered lemonade and beer of doubtful origin, also charged high exchange rates.

18:30 – Suez. Blackout due to the danger of bombing raids. Much shunting. The night was again to be spent on the train, away from the town. Hungry, thirsty – nothing since breakfast. At last we were allowed to leave the train and collect sausages and potato in our hands or on a piece of toilet tissue, and tea. The night was awful – our pillows etc. were all in the luggage van and not available. Mothers with babies were shown to a separate carriage, but not allowed to take their things, nappies etc., so instead of being a help, it was harder. Note: the Egyptian train was dirty and uncomfortable. Very hard to sleep. Rumours that we were headed for India, Ceylon, South Africa or Australia (Tasmania).

2.8.41, 7:00. – Carrying heavy luggage in the blazing heat, we walked for an hour from the train to the harbour. Torture. Children, women, unwell men stopped beside their suitcases, crying, unable to carry on. Trucks came by, but didn’t help. People already heavily laden helped others. At last, the harbour. Three ferries awaited us. The British Military Police in charge were already on board.

Now the order came for the internees to carry all the luggage up the gangway on to the largest ferry – anything not on board within the hour would be left behind. This was more hard work in the heat, especially as there had been no food or drink since the evening before.

The ferries steamed south for about an hour, past an enormous modern steamer listing half submerged. The boatsman said it was the Queen Mary bombed by German planes the night before. The vessel we were headed for lay out in the Red Sea, for safety. It was the Queen Elizabeth, the largest ship in the world, converted into a troop carrier – 12 decks high, 300m long.

3.8.41, Sunday – Breakfast in the large dining room – much confused milling about. Someone had the idea of getting some German POWs – there were about 1000 on board – to help. Later, when the crew were asked about their impressions of the Germans during the voyage, the newspapers reported: After the German sergeant, pipe in mouth, observed the chaos in the dining room for a short time, he declared that, with a few POWs, he could guarantee that the internees would be served efficiently at meal times. This was allowed and meals were henceforth served and cleared away in an exemplary fashion. The POWs also played music during meals.

The internees were happy with this arrangement, also with being able to exchange experiences with the German soldiers; after all, many families had sons in the army. The blackboard stating that talking to the POWs was forbidden was ignored, and the Australian [?] corporal on guard duty in the dining room only pretended to intervene when conversations took place.

The Red Sea is not at all red. We could not see Mecca. It was HOT. Even the children’s mattresses were soaked through, there was no fresh air and little water. The ship did about 25 knots through the Gulf of Aden and we saw flying fish. By watching the few rays of sunlight coming through the small windows, we tried to guess our destination, still unknown.

Every day, the order ‘on deck’ rang out, supposedly for exercise. Everyone had to go to a long hall on the starboard side, with windows painted black. With so many people, exercise was not really possible. Children cried for water or to go to the toilet – not allowed. No seats or tables. Life-preserver drill, none in lifeboats, which could accommodate 30 people. We were told the Queen Elizabeth would not sink even if hit by 12 torpedoes, but we smiled cynically. While we were on deck, all our luggage was thoroughly searched, especially the women’s cabins.

Please let me know if you would like the rest of the voyage to be published – when there is space.

Ed

and the proposed new Community Structure for the Temple Society Australia.

You, also, as living stones, must be built up into a spiritual temple…1 Peter 2:5a

In this Templer Record issue you will find another coloured ‘lift out’ section in the centre (pink). This is the fourth and final lift-out of a series, whose aim is to introduce and explain the proposed Community Structure and draft Constitution to all TSA members.

Previous lift-outs in the Templer Record:

If you didn’t receive a lift-out or have lost previous ones, please contact the TSA Office to receive another one.

In order to facilitate proceedings, we again wish to provide definite start times for our various annual meetings. The timetable is as follows:

Please note the times and read the individual notices below carefully. Proxy and nomination forms, whilst not included with every member’s circular, are readily available from the TSA Office, the various Community Heads and Treasurers, Tabulam and Templer Homes for the Aged and the various Community Halls. Upon enquiry, the necessary forms will be sent to you for completion.

ACN 004 279 001

Members of the Temple Society Central Fund (Aust.) are herewith notified that the Ordinary General Meeting of the Company for the year ended 30 June 2003 will be held in the Templer Hall at 41a Elizabeth Street, Bayswater, Victoria on Sunday 5 October 2003 commencing at 9:45 am.

Members unable to attend the meeting personally are invited to arrange for their representation by proxy.

Secretary

In keeping with Clause 10 of the Constitution all members of the Temple Society Australia are herewith invited to attend the Annual General Assembly for the year ended 30 June 2003. It will be held in the Templer Hall at 41a Elizabeth Street, Bayswater, Victoria on Sunday 5 October 2003 commencing at 10:30 am. A one-hour lunch break is scheduled from 12:00 noon.

Members unable to attend the assembly personally are invited to arrange for their representation by proxy.

Right now we are going through the coldest month of the year and I trust you are spared the usual colds and ‘flu.

Our community telephone grapevine is an important community service for the fast and efficient conveying of information.

The list is currently being reviewed and updated. This process may take some time, given the new privacy laws.

Should you not wish your telephone number to be on this list, please notify the Office, but keep in mind that you may miss out on important information.

Trip to Bright: It is not too late to book for this trip if you still wish to come to enjoy a few carefree days. For details see TR 652 July ’03, page 28.

Helga Anderson, Care Worker

For details see page 32

Contributors please watch out in next month’s TR for where to send material in September for the October Templer Record.

Ed.

Wir gratulieren herzlich zum Geburtstag unserer Mitglieder:

Gerda und Albrecht Kazenwadel.

We welcome Benjamin Hirst and hope he will feel at home amongst us.

Because in <word> an e-mail address is automatically underlined by the computer, Heidi Kitchen’s e-mail still hasn’t come out correctly. Try again:

<the_kitchens2002@yahoo.com.au>

On Sunday 6th July 2003 my dearly beloved brother, our brother-in-law, uncle and
great uncle Walter Burkhardt passed away aged 66 years, after a courageous battle against cancer.

Our heartfelt gratitude goes to Mrs. Hulda Wagner for conducting the service and for being with us at this very difficult time.
For the overwhelming community support and donations to TTHA we express our sincere thanks. A special thankyou goes to our extended family and friends without whom we could not have managed.

Walter, you were an inspiration to us all and will remain in our hearts forever.

In loving memory,

From Germany we hear that Lisbeth Lohss and Karoline (Line) Gnann have died. The latter was a sister of Werner and Gerhard Struve.

On 10^th July, our Community Chapel was packed for the memorial service for Walter Burkhardt held by Hulda Wagner, with contributions by others. Although he had not started a family of his own, he touched the lives of very many people, as was evident from the crowd who came to pay their last respects.

Fifteen months ago, the problem in Walter’s foot was diagnosed a melanoma. He decided against surgery and chemotherapy, opting instead for an alternative approach. To get better, he was willing to make radical changes, especially to his diet; he learnt to meditate. He spoke of his sense of being on a journey and exploring avenues that he would have scoffed at before. Amid the shock and anxiety, he found himself surprised and sometimes excited by his new insights into what life was about. He began to look healthier.

Walter’s sister, Rosemarie Weller, wrote in her eulogy (excerpts) –

The last 15 months have been a painful and at times frightening journey for us. During this time my brother has demonstrated courage, humility, strength and a wonderful attitude. Right to the end he was positive, reassuring us that, whatever happened, it would be for the best.

My brother had many wonderful qualities. He was sensitive, caring, generous, tolerant, kind and patient. He gave tirelessly of himself and was always willing to listen and lend a hand wherever required, never expecting anything in return. He looked for the good in all people. He was my hero.

He was also a very skilful watchmaker and he could fix most things. Our arrangement was a simple one. I broke it and he fixed it.

Dear Walter – I hope you have found the peace you so richly deserve.

At 16, Walter had to start afresh, in a new language. He was apprenticed to a watchmaker and did very well, finishing as "apprentice of the year".

Lance Busby of the Horological Guild writes about Wal’s lifetime involvement in the Guild, which Wal joined in 1954. He served on the committee and eventually as president of the Victorian Branch and was awarded life membership in 1988. ‘Wal was always active in presenting lectures at many general meetings, and his skills as a tradesman and teacher greatly influenced many people within the industry’. ‘One of Wal’s many valuable achievements was to establish the framework for the national modular curriculum [with] important ramifications Australia-wide’. He was also the Victorian delegate to conferences of the Federal body of the Horological Guild. ‘A gentleman and a gentle man.’

For ten years, Walter was manager of Holdsworth Bros Jewellers in the newly opened Eastland Shopping Centre. He did a Gemmology Degree and was a member of the Gemmological Association. He was also a member of the Antiquarian Society – a man of many interests.

Lecturing at the RMIT, Walter was popular with his students and respected by his colleagues. He taught watchmaking from 1974 till his retirement.

In his work as a youth leader at Templer children’s camps and as part of the Confirmation team, he guided many of our youngsters, too, in his mild, yet firm way. He was more than an Aufpasser, he was a friend and a real guiding light, as Renate Weber said in a service the following week. The number of young people present at his funeral attests to that.

The other area of great influence in the Temple Society was Aged Care. Elected to the Altersheim Committee in Sept. 1984, Walter became Committee President in November of the same year, and remained president for 16 years until the formal winding-up of what had become THA Inc. At first it was largely a fundraising committee. A steep learning curve was required to become a ‘Board of Governance’ responsible for compliance with Outcome Standards, Accreditation, the Retirement Villages Act, the Aged Care Act, to name just a few.

After mentioning the above, Dr Martin Schreiber, CEO of TTHA, enumerated the skills one would expect a chairperson of the board of a business with a turnover of about $4 million p.a. to have. Clearly Walter was not that kind of chairman. ‘We were so happy to have him for so long’ because:

Mark Herrmann from the Temple Society Office attended innumerable committee meetings with Walter. Some excerpts of Mark’s eulogy follow.

‘Within Templer circles there are probably three items synonymous with Walter Burkardt – timepieces, the Altersheim Committee and a never-ending supply of flannelette shirts.’

Many a Templer watch or clock ‘benefited from Walter’s patience, skill and expertise. Sometimes the owner of the timepiece needed to be patient as well, waiting for its unhurried but eventual return from Walter’s place.’

Walter presided over ‘quite a collection of monthly committee meetings, …often resplendent in his customary flannelette shirts and slippers’ in the Altersheim library…This, coupled with sub-committees for Admissions, Fundraising, Maintenance, Finance, Communication, Forward Planning and even Te