April - temple society australia

Templer Record
Published monthly in AUSTRALIA since 1946
(originally “CIRCULAR of the TEMPLE SOCIETY in AUSTRALIA”)
Holy Week
Death and Renewal – past and future
REFLECTIONS ..............................2
Resurrection to life ..................2
Was Holy Week political?........3
Text: for people in exile...........5
‘Your kingdom come’...............7
REGIONAL MATTERS.................10
Notes from RC Meeting.........10
Combined Service – TS150 ..10
Templer Fundamentals .........11
Confirmation..........................11
Religious Philosophy – Talks 12
Social Care ...........................12
MEMBERS AND FRIENDS..........15
Geburtstage – Birthdays .......15
Anniversaries ........................15
Births.....................................15
Engagement..........................15
Bereavements.......................16
Knox Festival Report.............17
Jugendgruppe reunites .........17
Carnegie Caravan Stall.........19
Working Bee Rupanyup ........19
SYDNEY.......................................21
Coming Events......................22
SOUTH AUSTRALIA....................22
YOUTH.........................................23
Youth Calendar .....................23
Bendigo Weekend Visit.........24
TTHA ............................................25
Dear Friends .........................25
Easter Stall............................25
Activities Assistant wanted....27
CONTENTS April 2011
NOTICES..................................... 28
Coming Services .................. 28
Flower Roster ....................... 28
Agape ................................... 28
CV Bendigo .......................... 28
150 Year Artwork.................. 29
Sommerfest Thankyou ......... 29
Craft Sessions Ba and Be .... 30
Puffing Billy Walk.................. 30
A Short Writing Course......... 30
TS150 Dinner Dance ............ 31
Book sought.......................... 31
THE HERITAGE PAGES............. 32
From the Past ....................... 32
Book Review – Sarona ......... 38
Exhibition at Templer Gallery 40
LAWNMOWING ROSTERS......... 41
CALENDAR APRIL...................... 42
In deutscher Sprache:
Auferstehung zum Leben...............2
TTHA – Liebe Freunde ................26
Booking Form for Dinner Dance

Page 2 Templer Record 737 – April 2011
REFLECTIONS
AUFERSTEHUNG ZUM LEBEN
In der Begegnung mit dir
habe ich gelernt,
mir zuzuhören,
mich anzunehmen,
meine Werte zu sehen
und mich an ihnen zu freuen.
Durch die Begegnung mit dir
wage ich immer mehr,
ich selbst zu sein,
selbst zu entscheiden,
meine Schwächen zuzugeben,
Grenzen zu setzen.
Durch die Begegnung mit dir
bin ich neu geworden:
gegründet in Sicherheit,
geborgen in Wohlwollen,
bereit für das Schwere,
stark für das Neue.
Max Feigenwinter, in Die Wahrheit Leben, 2011
RESURRECTION TO LIFE
In my encounter with you
I have learnt
to listen to myself,
to accept myself,
to see my values
and appreciate them.
Through my encounter with you
I dare more and more
to be myself,
to decide for myself,
to admit my weaknesses,
to set boundaries.

Templer Record 737 – April 2011 Page 3
Through my encounter with you,
I am renewed:
securely grounded,
feeling safe in goodwill,
ready for tough times,
strong for the new.
Who do you think the ‘you’ is? A lover? God? The Divine in human love? Are
they different?
Do you see a connection between love and the events of Holy Week? Does
love (always?) lead to becoming new?
H.U.
WAS HOLY WEEK POLITICAL?
Ideas from the book ‘The Last Week’ (2006) by Marcus Borg and John
Dominic Crossan, down to earth scholars of the Jesus Seminar.
The Christian calendar calls the current season Lent, in which a
transformative journey in time from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday
occurs. In the story Mark tells in his gospel, these weeks are a
transformative journey in space, from Caesarea Philippi to Jerusalem.
Along the way, Jesus tried to prepare his disciples for what would happen to
him when he stood up against Roman imperial power because of its violence
and against Jewish high-priestly authority because of its injustice. He tried
hard to prepare them for their individual and communal participation in that
death and resurrection, that end-as-beginning. They failed tragically, but not
irrevocably (except for Judas).
Like them, most of us also try to avoid sticking our neck out in case it gets
chopped off; we try to shelter religious beliefs about how we should act from
political repercussions. Confronting violent political power and unjust
religious collaboration has always – and still is – dangerous!
What we now call Holy Week takes place in Jerusalem, long a hope for the
world and ‘God’s dream for the world’ (symbolism that Christoph Hoffmann
also recognised).
On Palm Sunday in about 30 AD, two processions entered the city that was
filling up for Passover. One was a peasant procession, the other an imperial
one. From the east, Jesus from the peasant village of Nazareth rode in on a
donkey, cheered by his followers. His message was about the kingdom of
God, which is characterised by compassion, equality and non-violence.

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From the west, Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, entered Jerusalem at
the head of a column of imperial cavalry and marching soldiers coming to
guard against trouble during the Passover festival (which celebrated the
Jewish people’s liberation from an earlier empire). Pilate’s loud, colourful
procession was about the empire’s power, but also about Roman imperial
theology: the emperor was considered not just the ruler of Rome, but the
‘son of God’, ‘lord’, ‘saviour’, one who has brought ‘peace on earth’ (through
military victories and oppression).
Jesus had planned his ‘counter procession’, a political demonstration, with
symbolism from Zechariah in the Jewish Bible: a king coming to Jerusalem
(Zion) ‘humble and riding on a colt, the foal of a donkey’ (9:9); ‘he shall
command peace to the nations’ (9:10) – a king of peace and social justice.
‘This contrast – between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Caesar [of
worldly domination systems] – is central not only to the gospel of Mark, but
to the story of Jesus and early Christianity.’
The next day, Jesus again entered Jerusalem and went to the temple, the
most important structure in Jerusalem. But it was no longer purely the house
of God on earth – it had also become the institutional seat of submission to
Rome. ‘The priest who represented the Jews before God on the Day of
Atonement also represented them before Rome the rest of the year.’ The
relationship between the Roman governor and the Jewish High Priest was
fraught and certainly ambiguous.
But the temple’s ambiguity goes way back to the prophets. Jeremiah has
God ask: ‘Do you think that divine worship excuses you from divine justice?
Are you truly acting justly, one with another, not oppressing strangers,
widows and orphans?’ Are you sharing equally? And in Micah ‘what does the
Lord require of you but to do justice [be fair], and to love kindness, and to
walk humbly with your God’ (6:6-8).
Jesus created a scene in the temple (Mark 11:15-18). The ‘priests and
scribes’ wanted to kill him, but were afraid ‘because the whole crowd was
spellbound by his teaching’. Borg/Crossan say that Jesus’s action in the
temple was a symbolic fulfilment of Jeremiah’s prophetic threat about its
destruction if worship took precedence over justice – if the pious thought
they could get away with lying and cheating and being greedy the rest of the
week.
Jesus’s symbolic actions on Palm Sunday and Monday must be taken
together. ‘These action-teaching combinations proclaim the already present
kingdom of God against both the already present Roman imperial power and
the already present Jewish high-priestly collaboration. Jerusalem had to be

Templer Record 737 – April 2011 Page 5
retaken by a non-violent messiah rather than by a violent revolution, and the
temple ritual had to empower justice rather than excuse one from it.’ What is
involved for Jesus is an absolute criticism not only of violent domination, but
also of any religious collaboration with it.
In this, he stands with the prophets of Israel such as Zechariah for the antiimperial
entry against violence, and Jeremiah for the anti-temple action
against injustice; but he also stands against those forms of Christianity that
were used throughout the centuries to support imperial violence and
injustice. This is worth noting: some forms of Christianity are not in
accordance with Jesus’s teaching.
Based on their profound research, the authors continue to explain the events
of each day of Holy Week, the symbolic meaning at the time and for us
today – this book is fascinating! We know what happened – the one who
dared to protest against the ruling domination system, the man his followers
provocatively called ‘son of God’, ‘Lord’, ‘saviour’, was crucified as a traitor.
By the time of Mark’s gospel, the cross had also become a symbol of the
‘way’ or the ‘path’ of death and resurrection, of entering new life by dying to
an old way of life. ‘Take up your cross daily and follow me’ (Luke 9:23)
emphasises that the way of the cross is the path of personal transformation,
of standing up for God’s way against the world’s way. (See also page 7.)
TEXT OF THE MONTH – Jeremiah 29:4-9
Counselling the people in exile
Herta Uhlherr
Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles
whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses
and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and
have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your
daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters;
multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city
where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf,
for in its welfare you will find your welfare. For thus says the LORD of
hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let the prophets and the diviners who
are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they
dream, for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I
did not send them, declares the LORD.
Humans long for the world to be a safe place. People long to be allowed to
preserve their identity, their faith and their way of life even in a new and

Page 6 Templer Record 737 – April 2011
strange land. These are the two messages that emerge from Jeremiah’s
message to the exiles. There is more and more geographical displacement
of diverse people in our globalised world. Exile and security are pertinent
issues that many people have faced, in the times of the Old Testament as
well as in the present era.
Jeremiah was a prophet in the Old Testament and is also quoted in the New
Testament. His messages can be seen as being about individualising
religion. Jeremiah insisted upon the prime importance of the individual’s
relationship with God.
In his message to the exiled he is encouraging people to put down roots,
build homes and adapt to the new life. He urges them to ‘seek the welfare’ of
the new host city and ‘you will find your welfare’. This can be interpreted as:
do what is best for the common good – this will also benefit you. He does not
suggest that they assimilate and forget their ways, traditions and beliefs. He
does not want them to disappear without a trace in a land that is not theirs.
He would like them to carry on and preserve their way of life after the loss of
their former homeland. His message is a guideline for the survival of their
community.
Jeremiah warns them not to be misled by false prophets and dreamers.
Whether the exile is temporary or not, he tells them to carry on living a
normal life with complete trust in God. He does not say that exile is easy. It
isn’t. They may be faced with a different language, different cultural habits,
and they may not be understood and even not really tolerated by the new
host society. Jeremiah believes their faith-identity can survive if they try to fit
in while still preserving their ways.
The Templers are a good example of a community that survived in exile and
tried to preserve their faith in a foreign land. Jeremiah’s message applies
also to groups such as asylum seekers who reach our shores seeking a
place where they can feel safe and still retain their spiritual and cultural
diversity.
This message to exiles reminds us that we need to try and understand the
personal stories of the newcomers. The people who had to leave their
homeland are hoping for compassion, kindness and acceptance. They would
like their differences acknowledged – not by listening to false prophets who
mislead or maybe even carry hatred in their hearts; not through the words of
dreamers who lead them along the wrong track, but by illuminating the real
humanity of those who are trying to make a new life for themselves.
The flip side of Jeremiah’s message to the exiles is the need for host
societies to practise tolerance. In our present-day world marked by

Templer Record 737 – April 2011 Page 7
increasing mobility, communication, economic inter-dependence and largescale
displacement of populations, tolerance is even more essential than
ever before. Almost every part of the world is characterised by a diversity of
cultures. Tolerance is about respect, acceptance and appreciation of those
who are different. I believe that Jeremiah would say to the 21 st century
asylum seekers that they have the right to adhere to their individual religious
conviction and find new homelands. If civilisation is to survive, we need to
accept that we are all in this together.
Irene Bouzo
See also ‘Flüchtlingsstrom und Kirchenasyl’, politics and compassion, by Dr
Brigitte Hoffmann in ‘Die Warte’, December 2010.
YOUNG TEMPLERS and the Lord’s Prayer
Your kingdom come
This is the fourth in a series running in ‘Die Warte’ since December 2010. In
the original, Frieder Hammer (grandson of Otto) begins with part of a song
he wrote expressing the ideas he expands in his article below.
For Templers, the theme of seeking first the kingdom of God is part of what
identifies them. Although this is often spoken of here, I nevertheless hope to
offer some new food for thought.
Your kingdom come. But where does the reign of God begin for me? It
begins with me. Can I thrive here on earth and in my environment, can I be
happy? Or is this world here and now dreadful, unjust and unreasonable?
‘The olden days were much better!’ Were they? Many of my parents’
generation found Germany and the world in general so awful that they did
not want to bring children into it. To me, such conditions do not sound like
the kingdom of God, nor like belief and hope that it will come soon.
The filter in my head determines how I perceive the world. And therefore the
kind of world I live in! Yet I can determine what kind of filter I have in my
head. Every person is free to make up his mind whether he is well off or not,
and whether the world he lives in is good or bad, and whether it’s infinitely
far from the kingdom of God or getting closer to it.
You all know people who have had to endure terrible tragedies, yet could still
find joy in life and even pass it on to others – that is kingdom of God! On the
other hand, there are people who seem to have it all: family, wealth, a
successful life and career, who should therefore be fulfilled – but they fall
into depression, unable to see the good.

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Real poverty can limit quality of life, but prosperity is no guarantee of
happiness. In Nicaragua, one of the poorest countries in the world, I felt
people were much happier than the Germans here. So how can we tell the
coming of God’s kingdom? I believe the prerequisite for God’s reign begins
in our heads, in the way we choose to see things, because conditions on
which we could build already exist.
Many people of my generation often overlook the fact that we are already
very well off – already very close to conditions not so unlike the kingdom of
God. For instance, we have so many freedoms. And no one here needs to
starve or freeze any more. Many of our older people know that this cannot
be taken for granted, while we, who have grown up in an affluent society,
seem to. In earlier times, no king was exempt; today even those around us
we call ‘poor’ are not in altogether desperate situations.
This is an example of how I can perceive the world. Our life expectancy is
incredibly high, we have modern medical care and all the opportunities that
affluence and globalisation provide. There is practically no one absolutely
destitute – this has never before happened in the history of the world. Is
this not a marvellous foundation on which the establishment of God’s
kingdom should be possible?
I say establishment because the prayer Your kingdom come is not enough
for me personally. I don’t think it is enough to maintain the status quo and
just wait for the kingdom of God to come. In the first chapter of Genesis,
straight after creating human beings, God gives us the task of being in
charge of the earth and, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls his
followers the salt of the earth and the light of the world. For me, this
indicates a call to shape the world, in small and large ways; a Christian duty
to shine before people, as Jesus continues, and actively to form the world
with the aim of creating conditions like the kingdom of God. What shine
means is simple, really. The whole of Jesus’ teaching boils down to the key
concept of love your neighbour as yourself.
Jesus answers the Pharisees’ question about when the kingdom of God was
coming by saying (in Luke 17:20) the kingdom of God is among you. Right
now! Wherever someone behaves with neighbourly love, God’s reign begins!
On a small scale in our behaviour towards our family, friends and
acquaintances. On a larger scale towards strangers, fellow citizens, people
on the other side of the globe, even enemies. Wherever people act
selflessly, offer help, support and comfort, smile at the right moment.
Wherever I bring a child into life and love, educate and raise it. Whenever I
engage actively to help others and participate in bringing about the ruling
style of God in churches, in clubs, in the economy, in politics, in social care,

Templer Record 737 – April 2011 Page 9
in foreign aid, at my workplace and in my leisure time.
It’s up to me. Whenever I have to make a decision, it affects whether a part
of God’s reign comes into being or not. That is why I wear the bracelet that
says What would Jesus do? to remind me to act as Jesus asked us to, so
that the world is shaped as he envisaged it, in accordance with Your
kingdom come.
We Templers, too, can do more out in the world than care for cemeteries. If
we help more actively outside our community to bring about God’s ruling
style, the problem of declining membership may solve itself.
Our motto reminds us constantly to set our minds first on the kingdom of
God and his justice (Matt. 6:33).
Frieder Hammer
in Die Warte, March 2011
based on a Service by Youth on 7.11.2010
New thoughts about the Lord’s Prayer
Condensed and translated by H. Uhlherr
In the Abba Prayer’s request Your kingdom come, the
challenge ‘is not about the imminence of divine
intervention, but about the empowerment of human
collaboration.
‘Here is what counts: God’s kingdom did not, could not,
and will not begin, continue, or conclude without human
collaboration. That is why Matthew’s Abba Prayer has two
even parts, with the divine ‘you’ in the first half and the
human ‘we’ in the second half. And those two parts are
correlatives. They come together or never come at all.
They are like two sides of the same coin. Have you ever
seen a one-sided coin?’
John Dominic Crossan
in The Greatest Prayer, 2010, pp 93-4
When the Divine needs an instrument with courage,
wisdom and love, ‘He’ turns to you.

Page 10 Templer Record 737 – April 2011
REGIONAL MATTERS
NOTES from the Extended Regional Council Meeting of 4 th March
Of note in the overseas correspondence was an expression of concern and
best wishes from the TGD in Stuttgart for any members of our community
who have been impacted by the floods and cyclones.
A significant amount of time and effort is being put in on many fronts as we
arrange the celebration of TS 150. See below an article about the first event
– a combined Melbourne, Sydney and Germany service to be held at
6:00pm on Sunday 3 rd April. It will be facilitated from the Bayswater Chapel.
A very generous donation from the collection at the recent Presentation
Service in Bentleigh was able to be made to the Red Cross Appeal for the
Christchurch earthquake.
Particularly through our Care Worker Martina we are monitoring those in our
community who have been personally impacted by these recent natural
disasters. (See page 19 for a recent working bee.)
Amalgamation of the old TSA and Central Fund accounts is about to
commence under the direction of our auditor. This is in preparation for
issuing the one set of accounts under the new TSA corporate entity in future.
Year ending 30/06/2011 will be the first such report.
Four people have expressed interest in joining Mark in the formation of a
‘Think Tank’ to consider the possible future longer-term directions of the
TSA. If you feel you could and would like to contribute to this process,
please give Mark a call.
We are still awaiting the outcome of an independent accounting review of
TTHA finances, which is considered to be a mandatory preliminary step in
the progressing of a land sale to the Home.
John Maddock, Administration Manager
COMBINED SERVICE – TS150 – Sunday 3 rd April Bayswater Chapel
Our combined service with Stuttgart and Sydney – part of the TS150
celebratory program – is scheduled to begin at 6:00pm (10:00am in
Germany). As this is the day we change from our summer (daylight saving)
time, where clocks are turned back an hour at 2:00am, it is important that we
all get this right.
Part of the service will incorporate a teleconferencing hook-up, enabling

Templer Record 737 – April 2011 Page 11
welcome, greetings, President’s address, prayer and farewell to be shared
across all three locations.
If it is technically feasible, we hope to also include some singing – I’m
imagining each congregation singing a verse of the Templer hymn, with the
other two congregations listening, for full participation. The total period of
time connected would only be about 15-20 minutes, allowing each
congregation to then continue with their own service.
So, let us share in our community and ‘Face the future, reflect the past’
together.
By the way, the Founding Day services in June will be a further opportunity
to focus on the faith part of our anniversary, and we have thought to utilise
these for possible interaction with the wider community: for example,
representatives from the Progressive Christian Network of Victoria, the
German Consul, the Knox Inter-faith Network, the AGWS, local politicians,
etc. could be invited to the Founding Day services.
TEMPLER TALK – THE FUNDAMENTALS
Mark Herrmann, Regional Head
A series of sessions designed for adults interested in developing a basic
understanding of the Temple Society’s religion, faith and philosophy.
Upcoming sessions:
� Monday 2 nd May – Jesus and the Bible, a Templer perspective (note
the date change)
� Monday 30 th May – Temple Society, a brief history
� Monday 27 th June – Temple Society Australia, a faith community for the
21 st century
All will take place in the Chapel in Bayswater at 7:30pm. Feel free to join us,
whether you have attended the earlier sessions or not, for a casual, relaxed
evening of discussion.
CONFIRMATION – Reminder
Renate Beilharz
email: beilharztr@ozemail.com.au
Confirmation classes in the Temple Society Australia are scheduled to start
on the June Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend, with the confirmation

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ceremony planned for 18 th September in Melbourne.
Please let us know as soon as possible if you have a child/grandchild
interested in confirmation this year so we can finalise the planning.
If you have any questions at all, please contact us.
TEMPLERS TALKING RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHY
Renate Beilharz, beilharztr@ozemail.com.au
Mark Herrmann, mark@templesociety.org.au
on behalf of the Templer Elders
A series of regular conversations on topics covering religion, faith and
philosophy, facilitated by Elders of the Temple Society.
The next conversation will take place on Friday 15 th April, 7:30-9:00pm
(approx.) in the Chapel.
Discussion topic: Sin, guilt and forgiveness. Facilitated by Renate Beilharz.
All are welcome to join the conversation over a cup of tea/coffee.
Suggestions for future topics welcome.
SOCIAL CARE
Dear Friends,
Renate Beilharz
email: beilharztr@ozemail.com.au
In a great book I read recently titled Dance until it rains by Andrew Jobling,
there were some great tips on living your life to the fullest. I will share five of
the top tips from the book (which were also published in Take 5 magazine,
Issue 11) in the hope you, too, will gain something from them!
1. Love yourself first and foremost. It really doesn’t matter what other
people think about us. It’s what we think about ourselves that matters.
2. You are what you are meant to be. Learn from every experience and
don’t beat yourself up over things you have or haven’t said or done.
3. Forgive the most important person – you. We aren’t perfect and we all
make mistakes.
4. Never assume. Often we make up answers in our heads instead of
asking a person what they mean.

Templer Record 737 – April 2011 Page 13
5. Use words to help yourself and others. Phrases such as ‘Thank you’, ‘I
appreciate you’ or ‘You are important’ lift others.
In my role as care worker for all of you, I am privileged to be welcomed into
your homes and lives, sometimes for a short time when information is
needed, or for a bit longer as I help with an aspect of your life that requires a
bit more assistance. Sometimes my help comes in the form of counselling
and support, aged care assessment referrals, working alongside staff when
you are in hospital/rehabilitation, to provide the best care for you when you
return home, making referrals to other agencies for various services,
providing information about programs which may benefit you or your family,
visiting you at home and even teaching you how to use a computer. These
things, among many others, are all part of my role as care worker. Many of
the younger Templers (15-55 years) often think I am unable to assist them,
or that they don’t need help, and this is OK. However, as a community
development worker with a background of nursing studies and adolescent
counselling, I am also able to help the younger Templers with any issues
they may have or any information they may need. Same goes for families
with young children. I hope some of the younger ones feel they can
confidently come to me and discuss any issues that may arise, or ask for any
information they may need and know that it would remain confidential and, if
I can’t help them, I can certainly help to find someone who could!
At the time of writing this article, there are 9 places left on the Men’s
Advance. A whole weekend of good company and interesting activities for
$150. Please contact me to book.
Save the date: The Welfare & Distant Focus Group have their Raising Girls
Seminar coming up on Saturday 21 st May in the Bayswater Hall from
2:00pm-4:30pm with afternoon tea following (flier in the next TR). We have
Rod Dungan, who gave an excellent talk on Raising Boys last year, returning
to further inform parents on the highlights and challenges of raising girls.
Rod is the chaplain at Brentwood Secondary College in Glen Waverley and
is also Director and Trainer for Thriving Youth Australia and an Ambassador
for Resilience Foundation. Rod has been working with young people for over
30 years and is regularly asked to lead seminars and workshops in Australia
and across Canada and the USA.
The cost is $5 per person to cover the costs of the speaker. Please tell your
friends and invite them along to this great seminar with a chance to talk to
Rod afterwards over afternoon tea!
Telelink: Is changing to a Friday afternoon at 2:00pm on a fortnightly basis
after Easter. For all those who have shown an interest in participating on a

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Friday afternoon, please note that there will be a Telelink conversation in
April on Wednesday 13 th and the following session will be on FRIDAY 29 th
April from 2:00-3:00pm.
If this day suits you better and you would like to participate, please contact
me.
Freebies/Useful Websites
� Cooking for blokes: Eddy, the resident cook at Whittlesea Men's Shed,
takes guys through a few recipes, and passes on some of his cooking
tips. The Whittlesea Men's Shed, along with Plenty Valley Health, have
put together a cookbook for men called Beginner's Kitchen, available for
download from
www.theshedonline.org.au/media/files/Documents/Activities/beginners_kitchen.pdf
� Triple C – Creating connections and change – 6 weeks social skills
program for young people in Years 7-10. Triple C aims to help young
people learn how to build better friendships, communicate more
effectively, etc. Term 2, 4:00-5:30pm Wednesdays. For more info or for
a referral, contact Martina.
� www.reachout.com.au A great website for 14 to 25-year-olds with
blogs, info, videos and where to get help if you need it!
� Effective parenting program through Harrison Community Services
covers a range of topics and helps parents to develop skills that support
their adolescents’ transition into adulthood. The course lasts for 6
weeks. To find out more, contact the Intake worker.
Keep Smiling,
LATE NEWS
Martina Eaton, Community Care Worker
email: careworker@templesociety.org.au
From Germany we hear that Isolde (Dolda) Pfänder, the younger
sister of Käthe Margarete, died on 18.3.2011 after a long illness,
aged 82.
Walter Scheerer passed away at TTHA on Saturday 19 th March,
aged 88; his wife Lucie died some three years earlier. Walter is
survived by children Barbara (Quinn), Michael and Marianne
(Burman) and their families.

GEBURTSTAGE – BIRTHDAYS
Templer Record 737 – April 2011 Page 15
MEMBERS AND FRIENDS
Wir gratulieren herzlich zum Geburtstag unserer Mitglieder:
Tussi Starick Oskar Krockenberger
Ruth Haar (Bauder) Friedrich Goetze
Irene Bengough Hilda Beilharz
Waltraud Metrikas Luise Minzenmay
Volker Bulach Kuno Weller
Rosemarie Hahn Lothar Faig
Heinz Kuebler Johanna Wennagel
Heinz Wied Friedrich Katz
und wünschen auch allen hier nicht angeführten Geburtstagskindern alles
Gute und Schöne zum neuen Lebensjahr – Happy Birthday!
ANNIVERSARIES – Congratulations to:
Mark and Marianne Herrmann on their Silver Wedding Anniversary on 5 th
April.
Willi and Irma Richter on their Diamond Wedding Anniversary on 28 th April.
BIRTHS
Marlo Irving Mitsak
Parents: Emma Irving and Erick Mitsak
Hamilton Gregory van As, brother to Stirling
Parents: Alexandra (née Knodler) and Kester van As
ENGAGEMENT
Antonia Kinder and Darren Strachan were engaged on 27 th February.
Congratulations to these couples.

Page 16 Templer Record 737 – April 2011
BEREAVEMENTS
Unsere liebe Mutter, Oma, Ur-Oma, Schwester und Tante, Gerda
Kazenwadel née Decker, ist am 23.2.2011 nach einem reichen
Leben im Alter von 87 Jahren gestorben.
Sie ist für immer in unseren Gedanken.
In Liebe und Dankbarkeit
Dieter und Heide-Marie mit Leigh, Holly, Stefan und Dylan,
Klaus und Lauren mit Nathan und David,
Ulf und Bev mit Megan, Briony, Adele, Jessica und Robert,
sowie die weiteren Kazenwadel, Decker und Weller Familien.
Our sincere thanks to Mark Herrmann for conducting the service
honouring Gerda's life and thanks also for all the support from family
and friends at this sad time.
See also page 14.
PRESENTATION SERVICE
Our sincere condolences to all the families
At a heart-warming ceremony in Bentleigh on 27 th February, Elder Harald
Ruff presented Noah James Anderson, son of Brendon and Silvia
Anderson.
Ed.

KNOX FESTIVAL REPORT
With very large crowds
and summery weather,
the weekend of the Knox
Festival at Ferntree Gully
proved a hit! Housed
within the Multicultural
Stage area – where
performances of dance
and music from various
cultures were scheduled
on the hour – we had a
ready-made audience.
Admittedly they were
more interested in the
talents of our facepainting
ladies and the
other craft activities on
offer (after much practice
Templer Record 737 – April 2011 Page 17
I can now create an origami peace crane), but we did engage with many
members of the public and managed to send home a few items of TSA
promotion.
We continue to learn from such opportunities, and how best to set up and
present ourselves. I’d like to thank all the volunteers – Renate W, Kirrily,
Lisa, Susi, Imi, Ilse, Petra, Beate, Helga, Jessica and Renate B – for their
commitment, enthusiasm and friendliness.
JUGENDGRUPPE REUNITES – 12 th March
Knox Festival, 6.3.2011:
Note banners of our wall-hanging in the background
Photo Herta Uhlherr
Mark Herrmann
Still youthful in spirit, a group of around forty 70 to 80-year-olds picnicked
under the oak trees between the Chapel and the Bayswater Hall. Hugs and
enormous smiles told of the delight at catching up again with family
members and friends, some not seen for decades.
Why just now? Dieter and Gridle Lange were here from Stuttgart, Heinz and
Isolde Weller from Munich and Sydney and Hans and Gretl Hornung from
Los Angeles.
So their old Youth Group mates were called together to celebrate the ties of
family and solid friendship, albeit with a little less of the crazy energy of yore.
Mind you, while several of us walked the Routeburn Track together fifty

Page 18 Templer Record 737 – April 2011
years ago, several more were heading to NZ the next day to walk it at a riper
age – and they’ve done it!
There was a strong sense of how fortunate we are! While the Tatura camp
experience (1941-47) was hard on the grown-ups, we kids mostly had a ball.
Theo Graze said ‘I only had to whistle and ten friends would be there to play
(or get up to mischief) with.’ Life-long friendships were forged, cemented by
Templer Community life in the emerging Melbourne and Sydney Communities.
‘My uncle from Germany couldn’t believe we sang folksongs,’ said Dieter
Glenk; it was something they no longer did. Thank you Eva Morna, who
would bring her accordion along and play on the carriers to Senior Camp
and around the campfire – we knew all the verses and sang in harmony,
improvising descants, powerfully (if subconsciously) bonded by making
music together. Choir members say similar things.
Our ‘vintages’ were also fortunate in that (unlike those a little order, or girls in
the Palestine settlements) we had the opportunity to pursue higher
education. It has been noted before that our small Templer Community has
statistically been way above average in producing high achievers, of whom a
number have made significant contributions across the world: academics,
heads of research projects and cultural institutions, managers in industry,
artists and artisans, designers, inventors, elders, community workers, plant
experts, organisers… and many of our children are distinguishing themselves
in one way or another. (However, no politicians come to mind –
interesting!)
Reunion 12.3.2011 in Bayswater Photo H. Uhlherr

Templer Record 737 – April 2011 Page 19
In this our 150 th Anniversary Year, we celebrate the solid support-base of our
Templer Communities. Let us not forget what underlies all the practical and
fun work we do, namely our faith that what Jesus taught about right thinking
and right living leads to a cooperative, peaceful, fair co-existence with others
on our planet, something that is as urgent and necessary today as ever it
was. He called such conditions the kingdom of God (see earlier articles).
Long may Templer thinking and cooperative communities flourish for the
good of all in the world.
Herta Uhlherr
CARNEGIE CARAVAN STALL
For my last stall in the Carnegie Caravan, we were very pleased to collect
$361 towards the upcoming Kids’ Club camp in The Briars at Mt Martha.
Adding in the float (start-up change) retained from all the previous stalls
increased the total handed in to $422. Only the dedicated help of all the
helpers, especially Irene Eppinger and Helga Anderson, made this possible.
Marianne Herrmann always organised the appearance of the caravan at the
right time and place. So, thanks to these and the many past helpers and, of
course, to all the donors of the items we sold.
Gisela Bulach, signing off
WORKING BEE at Linghams’ in Rupanyup – 12 th and 13 th March
The first car arrived early Friday evening and by 11:00pm the contingent of
cars and Rosa had arrived and were setting up camp. A few drinks and
nibbles and it was off to bed for an early start. It is truly amazing what 14
people can achieve in two days.
The tasks included cleaning up the sandbags and flooring and weatherproofing
a hay shed to replace an equipment storage shed that was
damaged in the flood. In best recycling tradition the material of one shed
was used for the other. By the end of the day, half of the equipment shed
was demolished, one side of the hay shed was ready for cladding and the
gravel floor was in place. All signs of the sandbags were removed. Such
hard work meant, of course, that food and drinks had to be kept up by two
hard workers in the kitchen. The hardest part at times was getting some of
the workers in for meals, especially tea break, much to the frustration of our
cooks.
Saturday was a convivial night with plenty of food, drink and relaxation. The

Page 20 Templer Record 737 – April 2011
original idea of a bonfire had to be shelved as the mosquitoes were very
active (and not only at night!) but it was thoroughly enjoyable.
Work started early again on Sunday and the arrival of a couple of new
workers with more screws helped the progress. By 4:00pm (well, slightly
after) the hay shed had two solid walls and the equipment shed was
demolished and flood-damaged wood removed. The contents of the
equipment shed and hay shed had been sorted into heaps – keep, burn and
recycle. The bus crew, fed and cleaned and washed, left before 6:00pm for
the long trip back to Bayswater.
Thanks again to all the crew: Fred Decker, Carol and Winnie Beilharz,
Renate and Tony Beilharz, Karl and Wendy Steller, Dot and Pete Ware,
Herb Hoffmann, Mike and Chris Ware and Suzy Slootman for all your help
and great company. Thanks to all who brought or sent food – we certainly
weren’t going to starve. Although a large dent was put in the supplies, we
couldn’t eat them all in the two days. As I said on Sunday, I was absolutely
blown away with the amount that was achieved.
Templer workers in Rupanyup, March 2011
See also picture on page 41
Christa Lingham

Templer Record 737 – April 2011 Page 21
SYDNEY
I am delighted to introduce Sydney’s new Community Care Worker, Julie
Drinkwater. Julie will be job-sharing with me and together we plan to
improve our services to our community. Most of you already know Julie as
our Sunday School teacher, and a number of you have already gained a lot
from meeting her in her new community worker role. It is great that we have
such an enthusiastic, warm, caring and dedicated person to help support our
community. I trust that you will welcome her and soon come to appreciate
her work for us. As she finds time, I will ask her to write a short piece about
herself for us.
February’s Thanksgiving Service was held by myself. We had a memorial
candle-lighting ceremony for those affected by the four recent natural
disasters in our country and New Zealand; it centred around a moving
PowerPoint presentation by my husband Mark Turner. Then we took time to
acknowledge the abundance of material wealth that we are so fortunate to
have and concluded that in the modern-day search for happiness, taking
stock of what we have may be part of the answer. Just like some of the
world’s most underprivileged, who find joy and meaning by relishing every
one of their few possessions, their environment and the people who
surround them. If we were more grateful for and content with the basics,
would the urge to possess the latest gadget be so great?
Through paying our respects to those who have lost everything in the recent
disasters involving flood, fire, cyclone and earthquake, I think we were more
consciously grateful for what we have. Maybe we would be uplifted by
regular, even daily reflections on the ‘simple’ things that we are privileged to
have: like reasonable health and relationships with others, clean food, water
and shelter, and a safe country to live in. We are indeed privileged. As
average citizens, our relative wealth and material possessions and luxuries
and services are unprecedented in world history (see also page 8). Finally,
with greater contentment and happiness, we would tend to find the time,
materials and energy to share with those around us who are not as
fortunate. Indeed, this would lead to an even greater feeling of contentment
and joy all around. Go on, try it!
On Friday 11 th March, a ramble amongst native plants of the Cumberland
State Forest Nursery, an amble through the bush and a tasty meal amongst
friends summarise the proceedings of the last Seniors’ Group meeting.
Thanks to the group for putting up with and accommodating a pre-ordered
meal that left fewer and different choices than I had understood, and also for
calmly relocating when a deluge occurred. A day made pleasant by
generous, supportive people – bless you! Next meeting is at Wenty Leagues

Page 22 Templer Record 737 – April 2011
from 11:00am.
On 22 nd April, Herta needs help from young people to read parts of the Good
Friday Story as a drama. Please let me know ASAP if you can help – we
need you. The Easter bunny will hopefully leave some eggs for the kids to
find and there will be kids’ craft.
Easter Ourimbah camping – John and Jane have kindly invited us up to
their place again to camp over Easter. Let me know if you are interested in
joining us.
Our June service will be moved a week earlier than planned to link up with
the 150 th celebration founding day service in Melbourne to 19 th June at
10:15 am. Please adjust your calendars.
Coming Events
April 150 th Anniversary combined Service with Bayswater and Stuttgart –
Sunday 3 rd April. Light early dinner at 4:45pm, Service starts
6:00pm (see page 10). Kids’ activities on during the service.
Good Friday/Easter Service – Friday 22 nd April 10:30am to be held
by Herta Uhlherr. Duty: Gisela Tautz and Anny Beck. Also Sunday
School and craft and Easter egg hunt.
Easter Camping at John and Jane’s at Ourimbah from 22 nd to 25 th
April. Contact Ingrid for details.
May Seniors’ Social Group – Friday 13 th May
‘Men’s Advance’ Camp – Friday 13 th to Sunday 15 th May, Trafalgar
East, Vic.
Saal – Sunday 22 nd May 10:30am (Duty: Emmy Hoffmann)
Ingrid Turner, Community Development Worker
email: ingridt@tpg.com.au
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
In February we were fortunate to have Mark Herrmann giving us the service.
He spoke about forgiveness, how forgiveness, charity to all and tolerance
are the best gifts we can give. As usual, we had afternoon tea and happy
conversations afterwards. Our next service is on Sunday 10 th April at
2:00pm.
In February, the ladies met for lunch at the Art Gallery. We’ll meet there
again on 18 th April. Rose Asenstorfer

YOUTH CALENDAR
Templer Record 737 – April 2011 Page 23
YOUTH
Sunday 3 rd April TS 150 Anniversary Service Bayswater 6:00pm
April school holidays School Holiday activity TBC
30 th April to 1 st May Bendigo weekend visit Bendigo
Sunday 22 nd May Trees Adventure high ropes
climbing
Belgrave
TEENAGE GROUP
SOMMERFEST – Thankyou!
THANKS to all the TG kids and older ‘kids’ who helped out with manning the
Drinks and Ice cream tent, the entry gate and car parking, face painting, and
all the other jobs that needed doing! Much appreciated! Wasn’t it a beautiful
day.
Tug-of-war on the Wiese at Sommerfest 2011 Photo H. Uhlherr
APRIL SCHOOL HOLIDAY TG ACTIVITY
At the time of TR publishing, this activity was still to be confirmed. If you
have any queries please contact Susi.

Page 24 Templer Record 737 – April 2011
BENDIGO WEEKEND VISIT – Saturday 30 th April to Sunday 1 st May
TG will be taking the train to Bendigo on the Saturday morning and going on
to a ‘Mine Experience Tour’ of the Central Deborah Gold Mine (including
lunch underground!) and a vintage tram ride around Bendigo and finishing
up in the evening at the Discovery Centre for a session in the Planetarium,
on the Vertical Slide as well as all the other interactive exhibits, which is also
where we will be spending the night.
On Sunday we’ll be joining Perry and Crispin at the Country Vic get-together
where we’ll also have lunch and then catch a lift on Rosa back to Melbourne.
Cost – This still needs to be confirmed (depending on how many kids book),
but it will be between $50 to $100 all inclusive!
Bookings – let Susi know ASAP if you would like to come and no later than
Monday 11 th April.
Susi Richter, Community Youth Coordinator
susi@templesociety.org.au
A very Happy Birthday to:
Lincoln Christensen
Grace Wagner
Jacob Ruff
Alison Cross
Bailey Field
Isabel Bulach
Isabella Knaub
Odette McCallum
Jordan Kuerschner
David Vollmer
Veronica Schulz
Lachlan Green
Natalya Stefanac
☺
What gets wetter the more it dries?
A towel.
Where do apes sleep?
In their apricots.

Dear Friends,
Templer Record 737 – April 2011 Page 25
TTHA
We are approaching mid-autumn, and so far the weather has been
reasonably kind to us in Bayswater. When I consider the disasters combined
with the various levels of political unrest in the world, I always think how
lucky we are to live in a country like Australia. Even though we tend to
grumble about things, they pale into insignificance when compared to the
misery and hardship experienced by the people in the affected areas.
All our 118 licensed beds are occupied and our current resident ratio is 78
AGWS, 41 TSA (66% - 34%) and we have 8 waiting urgently for a place. The
present case mix is 27 low care (22.7%) and 92 high care (77.3%). The 3unit
development at 38 Elizabeth Street is awaiting builders’ quotes. A major
setback was experienced when the applicants for Unit 2 changed and the
design reverted back to a single-storey building. Our new Hostel is almost
complete.
In March the Arabian day celebration complete with belly dancer was a big
hit, all enjoyed the foot-tapping music with many joining in the dancing. Also
in March, we had Beverley’s fashions with their summer clothes on special.
The Boys Brigade is back on Saturday mornings and, as a project, they want
to make up mosaic tile pictures to decorate the new men’s area in Tabulam.
As well as advice they need tiles, cutters, grout and tile glue, so if you can
help, please contact Karin Schwarz at the Home. We are also looking for an
old car (does not have to work) but preferably a German model for our
Tabulam residents to ‘wash’ or just sit in etc. If you know of a car in
reasonable body condition, please advise either Cheryl Young or Karin
Schwarz.
The Home seems to accumulate a large amount of lost property in the
laundry. The items don’t have the residents’ names on them and so have
lost their owners. We would love someone to volunteer to take ‘ownership’ of
the job of solving some of those mysteries and possibly organise an
occasional viewing of lost garments for family and residents to go through
and claim what is theirs. It would be a great service and much appreciated
by the Home.
On 6 th April we will be holding an Easter stall from 10:00am to 12:30pm.
The Templer handcraft group will be selling their lovely items and the TTHA
art and craft group have been busy making all sorts of things for this event.
Other stalls will include specially imported German Easter chocolate and
treats while the Nutrimetics stand offers pamper gifts and make up items.

Page 26 Templer Record 737 – April 2011
Our café will be open with cakes and coffee. To celebrate Easter, a very
special morning event will be held in the Tabulam dining room on 21 st April
at 10:30am. An opera singer, Samantha, will perform pieces in a variety of
styles. This should be a memorable occasion and I hope many residents
take advantage of seeing and listening to Samantha.
Liebe Freunde,
Hartmut Weller
Jetzt sind wir schon mitten im Herbst und das Wetter hat es einigermaßen
gut mit uns in Bayswater gemeint. Wenn man an all die Katastrophen und
politischen Unruhen in der Welt denkt, denke ich immer, wie viel Glück wir
doch haben, dass wir in einem Land wie Australien leben. Verglichen mit
dem großen Unglück, das viele Leute in den betroffenen Gebieten erlitten
haben, erscheinen uns unsere alltäglichen Probleme unbedeutend.
Alle unsere 118 Pflegebetten sind belegt und das AGWS/TSA-Verhältnis ist
78/41 (66%/34%). Wir haben 8 dringende Fälle auf der Warteliste. Wir
haben 27 Personen in ‘low care’ und 92 in ‘high care’ (22.7%/77.3%). Für
die 3 units in 38 Elizabeth Street warten wir auf Kostenvoranschläge. Es gab
dann noch eine Verzögerung, weil durch neue Bewerber für Unit 2 das
Gebäude wieder auf einstöckig umgeplant werden musste. Unser neues
Hostel ist fast fertig.
Unser Arabischer Tag im März war ein großer Erfolg, einige unserer
Heimbewohner haben auch selbst das Tanzbein zur Musik geschwungen.
Außerdem hatten wir eine Veranstaltung von ‘Beverley’s Fashion’ mit einer
Auswahl ihrer Sommerkollektion.
Die ‘Boys Brigade’ ist wieder aktiv samstags morgens. Sie haben sich ein
Projekt vorgenommen, um den neuen Hobbyraum mit Mosaikkacheln zu
dekorieren. Hierfür werden noch Leute gesucht, die mit Rat und Tat zur
Seite stehen. Zudem werden noch Kacheln, Kachelkleber, Mörtel und
Schneidegeräte benötigt. Ausserdem suchen wir ein altes Auto (muss nicht
mehr funktionieren), aber vorzugsweise ein deutsches Modell für unsere
Heimbewohner zum Waschen oder einfach darin sitzen. Bitte geben Sie
Cheryl Young oder Karin Schwarz Bescheid.
In unserer Wäscherei sammeln sich viele einzelne Wäschestücke an, die
ihre Besitzer verloren haben, da sie nicht mit Namen versehen sind. Wir
würden uns sehr über einen Freiwilligen freuen, der sich dieser Sache
annehmen könnte, um die Rätsel zu lösen. Vielleicht könnten die
Kleidungsstücke ab und zu öffentlich ausgelegt werden, damit die Besitzer

gefunden werden.
Templer Record 737 – April 2011 Page 27
Am 6. April werden wir unseren Ostermarkt von 10:00-12:30 Uhr abhalten.
Die Templer Handarbeitsgruppe und die TTHA Bastelgruppe werden ihre
wunderschönen Artikel verkaufen. Es wird außerdem aus Deutschland
importierte Osterschokolade zum Verkauf stehen sowie Geschenkartikel und
Pflegeartikel. Unser Café wird für Kaffee und Kuchen geöffnet sein. Eine
besondere Morgenveranstaltung zu Ostern wird am 21. April um 10:30 Uhr
stattfinden. Wir haben eine Opernsängerin engagiert, Samantha, die uns
musikalische Stücke verschiedener Art vortragen wird. Lassen Sie sich diese
Gelegenheit nicht entgehen.
ACTIVITIES ASSISTANT WANTED
Hardy Weller
TTHA is an Aged Care facility in Bayswater and is looking for an Activities
Assistant to help out with activities each Monday to Sunday from 2:30 to
5:30pm (days negotiable).
There will be opportunities to increase hours and upskill via further training.
The ideal candidate will have experience in working with elderly people and
knowledge of the German language and culture would be an advantage.
Please forward resumés/expressions of interest to me at the Home:
krista.blessing@ttha.org.au
Krista Blessing Koumas, TTHA
At Sommerfest Photo H. Uhlherr

Page 28 Templer Record 737 – April 2011
COMING SERVICES
NOTICES – BEKANNTMACHUNGEN
Sun
Ba + Sy
3.4.
+ TGD 18:00 150th Anniversary
‘simulcast’
Mark Herrmann, Melb.
Ingrid Turner, Sydney
Sun 10.4. S.A. 14:00 Service Tanunda Uli Asenstorfer
Sun 17.4. TTHA 10:30 Service Hulda Wagner
Thu 21.4. Ba 18:00 Agape Helga Jürgensen
Fri 22.4. Ba 10:15
Good Friday Service
Dr Irene Bouzo
& SS
Fri 22.4. Sy 10:30
Good Friday/Easter
Herta Uhlherr
Service
Sun 24.4. Be 10:15 Easter Service & SS Mark Herrmann
Sun 1.5. CV 11:00 Bendigo Theo Richter
FLOWER ROSTER
3.4. Ba 150 Anniversary – Heidrun Messner, Imi Roscher
24.4. Be Easter – Moni Imberger
AGAPE – Thursday 21 st April Chapel 6:00pm
Reflective gathering with music, remembrance, candlelight and a simple
meal to commemorate Jesus’s last night with his friends.
All welcome. Please let us know if you are coming (for space and catering
purposes). Contact the Office or us. Donations welcome.
COUNTRY TEMPLERS – Bendigo Sunday 1 st May
Helga Jürgensen or
Renate Weber
The Country Vic service will be held at Lake Weroona, Bendigo, on 1 st May,
beginning at 11:00am. You will need to bring chairs and picnic gear. There
are BBQs available so bring you own meat and salad to share, as well as
something to share for afternoon tea. If the weather is wet, an alternative
venue will be available, so please let Linda Beilharz know if you are
attending.
Please book at the Office if you want to go on the Rosa bus.
Christa Lingham

150 YEAR ARTWORK
Templer Record 737 – April 2011 Page 29
Hi all – another reminder about the 150 Year Artwork which I am helping to
organise. We need your photos! Time is running out, so make sure you get
your photos in to be part of our community artwork. Act now!
Please only send us portrait shots of individual people; no family photos
because it makes our job too hard. A good idea is to bring a camera along to
your next family function and take pictures of everyone and collect some
money.
Details about delivery of the photos are in the March Templer Record on
page 29.
If we get your photos in time, you can be part of this amazing community
artwork.
Lisa Beilharz
SOMMERFEST 2011
The weather was perfect, the organisation spot-on. Thanks to the efforts of
many – in particular, our dedicated and industrious Sommerfest Interest
Group members (Silvia Anderson, Tara Maree, Melissa English, Karyn
Campbell – what a team!) – Sommerfest 2011 as a key TSA community
event was a huge success.
Congratulations, ladies!
Mark Herrmann

Page 30 Templer Record 737 – April 2011
CRAFT SESSIONS IN BAYSWATER
A reminder that Helga Kuerschner will conduct craft sessions on Tuesday
12 th April and 10 th May from 10:00am till approx. 12:30pm in the Activity
Room at TTHA. Please ring her if you are planning to attend.
Helga would love some people to bake Easter biscuits for the Easter Stall
at TTHA on Wednesday 6 th April (commencing at 10:00am). Please deliver
to Helga prior to the day if possible. Ring to confirm a time for delivery.
CRAFT SESSIONS IN BENTLEIGH
Our next craft session in Bentleigh will be on Saturday 30 th April and 15 th
May. If the Bentleigh Hall is not in use, we meet at the back of the hall from
2:00-4:00pm. We welcome people who wish to come and work on their own
things as well as assist with ours. Please advise if you are coming. I have
many new ideas to share.
Marianne Herrmann
PUFFING BILLY WALK – Saturday 9 th April 10:30am
Where: Emerald Lake
Length: About 11 km circuit, 5 hours. Grade: Easy
Map: Melways Map 127 and 311
Directions: Take Wellington Road, past Cardinia Reservoir to Emerald.
Call me or email me on murray58@optusnet.com.au if you are planning to
join us. On the day I will have my mobile.
A SHORT WRITING COURSE
Trudi Murray
Jutta Goetze has offered to present a six-week beginner’s short writing
course (from 2 nd May and running on consecutive Monday evenings from
7:00pm). Full details were printed in the March Templer Record, page 34.
The course cost is $99 (GST-inclusive) and bookings can be made at the
TSA Office. A class of 10-12 people is envisaged, and half of the places are
already taken.
Mark Herrmann

Templer Record 737 – April 2011 Page 31
TS 150 ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION – DINNER DANCE
As per our extended article in the March TR, we invite everyone who has
any affiliation with the Temple Society, past, present or future, to join in the
celebrations of our 150 th Anniversary with a birthday party!
The party will be a dinner dance to be held on Saturday 16 th
July, with no official speeches, but plenty of fun with some
surprise ‘acts’.
Your invitation and the booking form are included in this TR,
or you can contact the Office for a copy, or download the
information from our website www.templesociety.org.au
Full details are available on the invitation and booking
sheets, but in summary:
Date: Saturday 16 th July from 7:00pm – midnight
Venue: Freccia Azzurra Club
Address: 784-796 Springvale Road, Keysborough (Melway map 88 H11)
� Gather some friends for a table of 10; smaller groups will be placed
together to make up tables of 10.
� Bus transport available from Bayswater and Bentleigh (see booking
form).
� Child minding service available in the room next to the main room,
where the TTHA German Zivis will provide activities and entertainment.
Children will receive a 2-course meal and will need to be booked in for
this service (see booking form).
We hope to see many of you at this happy occasion, to help us acknowledge
what the TS has already achieved and to help us begin creating more
history. Please come along, be part of it all and celebrate with us.
BOOK SOUGHT
Moni Imberger, for the Organising Committee
Does someone have a copy sitting around of My perilous life in Palestine by
Rosamond Dale Owen (Mrs Laurence Oliphant, the owner of Armageddon),
published by George Allen & Unwin, London, 1928, 346 pages.
Wolfgang Löbert and Karin Ruff are interested in obtaining a copy. Wolfgang
lives in France, but you can contact his sister, Erika English. Only one library
in Australia has a copy, it seems. – Thank you for your help.
Wolfgang Löbert

Booking form for Temple Society’s 150th Dinner Dance
To assist the organising committee for the 150th Dinner Dance (Birthday Party) please complete the following
booking form. List the names of those attending (including children under 12, who will be cared for in the room
adjoining the main function room), and book in tables of 10 if you want to plan your own seating arrangements.
Smaller numbers will be combined with others.
No. of adults @ $55.00 per head ______ $______
No. of full‐time students @ $40.00 per head * ______ $______
No. of children 12 and under for child minding @ $15.00 * ______ $______
* The student/child rates are partly subsidised
ALL – please advise of any special dietary requirements
Total $______
Please make cheques payable to Temple Society Australia, or arrange a direct deposit (suitably annotated) to our
account (BSB: 063 126; Account number: 1004 2614).
Send/Email booking forms (with accompanying payment) to the TSA Office at 152 Tucker Road, Bentleigh, 3204 or
tsa@templesociety.org.au
Enquiries: Moni Imberger gmsnki@bigpond.com

Main contact for table: Name _________________________________ Telephone _______________
Please list the names of those attending
Table:
1._________________________________ 2.________________________________
3._________________________________ 4.________________________________
5._________________________________ 6.________________________________
7._________________________________ 8.________________________________
9._________________________________ 10._______________________________
Child Minding:
1.__________________________Age____ 2.__________________________Age___
3.__________________________Age____ 4.__________________________Age___
5.__________________________Age____ 6.__________________________Age___
Numbers requiring Bus transport:
From Bayswater ______ From Bentleigh ______
Enquiries: Moni Imberger gmsnki@bigpond.com

Page 32 Templer Record 737 – April 2011
THE HERITAGE PAGES
In March 1946 and in April 1948 occurred two events of far-reaching
consequences for the Temple Society. The first was the assassination of
Gotthilf Wagner, community leader of the remaining Templers in Palestine.
The second was the attack on Waldheim. Both events played pivotal parts
in the inexorable process towards removal of the Templers from Palestine.
FROM OUR PAST: Sarona, 65 years ago
Gotthilf Wagner was murdered on his way to Sarona on 22.3.1946
Here is a description of what happened in March
1946 and a longer report about the attack on
Waldheim in April 1948:
‘In March 1946, Gotthilf Wagner (1887-1946), his
wife and another fifteen people, the last to have
remained in Sarona, were evacuated to Wilhelma.
[…] One of Wagner’s official duties was to make
weekly payments to the Arab workers who were
looking after the Sarona land. He was shot and
killed by a Jewish group on his second trip. This
was no random attack; no one else in the car was
touched and no money was taken. It was a wellplanned
action to eliminate this person, the
Gotthilf Wagner
biggest obstacle to obtaining land from the
German settlers.’
S. Hahn in Exiled from the Holy Land
‘[…] Gotthilf Wagner, who was murdered by some Jews on Friday, had
driven from Camp Wilhelma to pay the wages of Arab workers. […] He knew
that leaving the camp every week was fraught with danger, because the
Jews had tried to kill him two years before by planting a mine, which
exploded but, miraculously, left him unscathed.
When a motor cycle followed his car, his passengers were worried and

Templer Record 737 – April 2011 Page 33
somewhat afraid, but Mr Wagner insisted on keeping going. When a car
deliberately stopped his progress […], Jewish youths suddenly fired three
shots at him at point blank range.’
From a 1948 Ad-Difaa news report, in Exiled from the Holy Land
The following is part of the prayer spoken by Imanuel Katz (1896-1969) at
the grave of community leader Gotthilf Wagner sixty-five years ago:
Almighty God, dear Heavenly Father! […] We praise you also when in pain
and deepest mourning. […] We thank you that you have given us him whom
you have now recalled; we thank you for everything he, with your
assistance, was able to do for us. Take us all into your care […], so we may
be yours, even in death, and forever. Amen
FROM OUR PAST: Waldheim 63, years ago
Report of the attack on Waldheim and its occupation by the Haganah
underground [1948]
By courtesy of TGD Archive, Degerloch, slightly condensed by PH
The peaceful settlement of Waldheim near Haifa 1936 Photo courtesy of Fritz Katz
On 17 th April 1948 at 4:15 in the morning, the German settlement of
Waldheim (known as Internment Camp No.2) was attacked by the
Haganah with armoured cars and automatic weapons. Waldheim was
surrounded and shot at from all directions, and members of the Jewish

Page 34 Templer Record 737 – April 2011
force penetrated all houses of the settlement, arrested the inhabitants
and took them to various places where they were kept under guard.
Some of the men were manhandled. There was no resistance to any of
these actions from the German internees. The camp was practically
undefended; the guard consisted of only one British sergeant of the
Palestine Police and two constables with one rifle each and five or six
unarmed Arab policemen.
British Police Officer Alan Tilbury with his staff in Waldheim 1948
Photo courtesy of Alan Tilbury
Shots were fired during the house-to-house actions. Mrs Katharine
Deininger, 65, was in the stable to milk the cows and tried to close the door
when the shooting had stopped for a moment. As soon as she appeared in
the open doorway, a bullet of a machinegun burst struck her in the head,
wounding her seriously. Mr Karl Aimann, 63, and Mrs Regina Aimann, 42,
were murdered in their kitchen in front of their 3 small children. They were
shot with automatic weapons when several armed men of the Haganah
entered the room. Mr Aimann, old and weak, was very religious and never
had anything to do with politics; it is unthinkable that he resisted the invaders
in any way. Besides, being internees, none of the Germans had any
weapons.
In the late morning, a British Army captain came and inquired after the wellbeing
of the prisoners. Men, women and children had been kept all day and
brought together in the evening to spend the night in a police barrack. They

Templer Record 737 – April 2011 Page 35
were given food and drink. The internees were addressed by the officer in
charge of the Haganah operations, who said that the occupation was not a
move against the Germans and that the Haganah did not want their fields or
their houses, nor any of their possessions – they wanted only to be first to
prevent the Arabs using the place as a base for attacking Jewish colonies. If
any of the Germans wanted to remain they could do so after the occupation.
All the money and other things taken from them and their houses would be
returned. He even showed the money and gave his official word of honour
that everybody would get it back.
But when they were allowed to re-enter their houses at about 8 o’clock next
morning, the internees, to their amazement, found everything in great
disorder and all their money, valuables, watches and personal belongings
gone. They were given 20 minutes to pack what was left and had to leave
behind what they could not carry. Then everybody was ordered to an
assembly point where all the bags and suitcases were searched again and
all the money, letters, documents and some books taken out. Every internee
had to undergo a body search. One of the Haganah officers made a political
speech that included insults of all things German. Six younger Germans
were picked out by another officer and marched off under armed guard.
They were taken one by one from the office to another room, where they
were interrogated and thoroughly searched, as well as made to undress to
the waist and scrutinised for certain marks.
The Waldheim refugees to be transported to Cyprus by the British Mandate Government in 1948
Photo courtesy of Archive Collection of Nahalal, Israel

Page 36 Templer Record 737 – April 2011
At about 11 o’clock the internees were taken by lorry, and under
escort, to the military camp ‘Sidney Smith Barracks’ near Acre by the
British Army. After two days they were made to board the Royal Navy
corvette Empire Comfort. The ship sailed at 5 o’clock in the afternoon
and reached Famagusta (Cyprus) in the morning of 22 nd April 1948.
The internees were then transported by army truck to the ‘holiday’
camp of Golden Sands near Famagusta, where they were accommodated
on the sand dunes in tents.
The Evacuation Photo courtesy of Ewald Wagner

Templer Record 737 – April 2011 Page 37
Arrival in Cyprus Photo courtesy of Richard O. Eppinger
‘Golden Sands’ Camp, where the refugees were kept until transport to Germany or Australia became
available Photo courtesy of Richard O. Eppinger

Page 38 Templer Record 737 – April 2011
For further reading please refer to The Holy Land Called – The Story of the
Temple Society by Paul Sauer 1991, ISBN 0 9597489 38, and Exiled from
the Holy Land, compiled by Horst Blaich, 2009, ISBN 978 14251 3891 2.
Both books are available from the Templer Office, tel. (03) 9557 6713.
BOOK REVIEW by Dr Charlotte Laemmle
SARONA by Helmut Glenk (Trafford Publishing, 2011)
From the author of From Desert Sands to Golden Oranges and Shattered
Dreams at Kilimanjaro comes a poignant first novel, Sarona.
Helmut Glenk has chosen the universal theme of a love story on which to
anchor this historical novel. Erich, an eighteen-year-old Sarona Templer,
and Ruth, a beautiful Jewish girl from neighbouring Montefiore fall deeply in
love. However this is a ‘forbidden’ relationship that necessitates secrecy.
Through the eyes of Erich and Ruth and their family and friends we learn the
story of Sarona and its inhabitants at a time when the beginnings of the
State of Israel were in the making. The author has skilfully woven the
tumultuous world and local events of the 30s and 40s into his story and, in
doing so, fosters an understanding of the perspectives of the various players
in the Palestine arena – Arab, Jewish, British and Templer alike.
Clearly written and crafted, this book bursts with history. With broad brush
strokes we learn of the origins of the Templers, the history and events
surrounding two World Wars and the background of Jewish migration to
Palestine. The fine pencil work is in the detailed descriptions of Templer life
– summer evenings in Günthner’s café and Kübler’s bar, Christmas
celebrations, descriptions of the beloved Südstrand and the Tel Aviv of the
30s and 40s. The events of the war years are also carefully described – the
harshness of internment, separation of family members and eventually
deportation to an unknown destination. We also learn of the war experiences
of young Sarona men.
This novel, however, unlike a historical text, gives voice to the personal, the
everyday, and invites us to put ourselves in the other person’s shoes. David,
Ruth’s brother is a young man passionately striving for a Jewish homeland.
In sharp contrast, Wilhelm, Erich’s father, is the patriotic German farmer who
has toiled his and his father’s land all his life and is not willing to give this up.
The two mothers hold more moderate convictions. Ruth and Erich show a
tolerance and willingness to see the other side.
The similarities and interconnectedness of the Templers and Jewish
inhabitants of Palestine are beautifully interwoven. Erich and Ruth are

Templer Record 737 – April 2011 Page 39
grandchildren of the original Templer and Jewish settlers who pioneered the
first major agricultural enterprises in Palestine. Both families run mixed
farms. Cream for the Gold’s Tel Aviv patisserie comes from the Sarona
dairy, and flowers for the celebration of a birth come from Orth’s nursery.
Erich’s family welcome the services of the Jewish veterinary surgeon. The
author emphasises the longstanding history of peaceful coexistence
between these two cultures before the advent of German Nazism in the early
1930s.
The final chapter cleverly brings the story of
Ruth and Erich and also the settlement of
Sarona full circle. Here again the author
uses every opportunity to gently inform and
educate his readers.
A central theme of this book is that of loss.
Loss of home, land, country and even loss
of life. Cycles of loss and beginning again,
separation and reunion and struggles for a
homeland and religious independence
underpin both Templer and Jewish history.
With its reasoned and impassioned
dialogue this historical novel has the
potential to present the little-known story of
Sarona and the Templers to a wider
audience. This book will allow young and
interested Templers easy access to some
of their history. It may also allow currentday
Israelis a better understanding of the part that Sarona played in their
history.
Helmut says
thank you to all those who have purchased the new Sarona
book – an historical novel based mainly on actual events and happenings.
Many thanks also to the numerous readers who have given me some
wonderful feed-back, which has been most encouraging and satisfying.
Comments have included: ‘congratulations, at long last a history book for
non-historians’; ‘wonderful story as well as a history lesson’; ‘a great story –
looking forward to your next book!’; ‘“Sarona” should be added to the
collection of books available about our former settlements in Palestine’.

Page 40 Templer Record 737 – April 2011
Sarona can be purchased from:
� TSA Office,152 Tucker Rd, Bentleigh 3204 Vic; tel: (03) 9557 6713
� Tabulam & Templer Homes, 31-41 Elizabeth St, Bayswater 3153
� Helmut Glenk, email hglenk1@optusnet.com.au
Cost: $25 soft cover, $35 hard cover plus postage $6 within Victoria and $8
interstate. Free delivery within 10km of my home.
Also available on the internet from Traffords www.trafford.com or your
preferred book retailer.
Flood damage in Rupanyup, see also page 19
Helmut Glenk
EXHIBITION
AT THE
TTHA TEMPLER GALLERY
April – June 2011
OLD POSTCARDS FROM
THE MIDDLE EAST
ALL WELCOME
Heritage Pages edited by Peter Hornung

Templer Record 737 – April 2011 Page 41
COMMUNITY LAWN MOWING ROSTERS
APRIL/MAY 2011
BAYSWATER BENTLEIGH
3 rd April
Thomas Knaub
Holger Messner
9 th April
17 th April
David Murrihy
Herbert Neef
15 th May
Dieter Roscher
Dieter Ruff
7 th May
Keys to lawn mowers etc. can be
collected from Tony.
If working on Sunday, try to avoid
starting machinery before 10:00am to
comply with Noise Restrictions in the
City of Knox.
Tony Beilharz
To arrange an alternate date or a
swap, please contact your partner
and/or the appropriate member and
arrange the swap directly.
Alastair and
Nicholas Herrmann
Dietmar Jürgensen
Hans Ibel
Normal start time is 9:00am. Both
lawn mowers can be operated
without a catcher (the preferred
method). If the grass is too long,
then one of the mowers can have
a catcher installed.
Lawnmowing should include the
Secret Garden area (at back of
Office). Please don’t put lawn
clippings in Secret Garden area
(green waste bin is now available
for lawn clippings).
Peter Ware
Paul Weberruss
☺ The dolphins were really smart. They had trained people to throw
them fish five times a day.
Which animals get up first?
Ducks – at the quack of dawn.
What would you expect people who couldn’t tell the truth to do after
they died?
Lie still.
What word is wrong when it’s pronounced right, but can be right when
it’s pronounced wrong?
Wrong.

Page 42 Templer Record 737 – April 2011
APRIL 2011 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
1 Fri RC Be 19:30
2 Sat
3 SUN 150 Anniversary Service Ba + Sy 18:00
4 Mon �
5 Tue
6 Wed TTHA Easter Stall 10:00-12:30
7 Thur
8 Fri Kids’ Club Camp Mt Martha starts
9 Sat Walk: Puffing Billy 10:30
10 SUN Service Tanunda 14:00
11 Mon Kids’ Club Camp Mt Martha ends
12 Tue Ba Craft 10:00; Ladies’ Afternoon Be 12:00
13 Wed Telelink 14:00
14 Thur
15 Fri Religious philosophy Ba 19:30
16 Sat
17 SUN Service TTHA 10:30
18 Mon �
19 Tue
20 Wed
21 Thur Agape Ba 18:00
22 Fri Good Friday Service + SS Ba 10:15; Service Sy 10:30
23 Sat
24 SUN Easter Service + SS Be 10:15
25 Mon
26 Tue
27 Wed
28 Thur
29 Fri Telelink 14:00
30 Sat TG Bendigo Weekend Visit; Be Craft 14:00
MAY 2011
1 SUN CV Service Bendigo 11:00
2 Mon Templer Talk Ba 19:30
6 Fri RC Ba 19:30
New Moon � Full Moon �

CONTRIBUTIONS
Templer Record 737 – April 2011 Page 43
The Templer Record’s principal aims are to promote
Templer Christian thinking and to further communication
and harmonious living amongst the members of the
Temple Society.
It is a community effort; contributions reflect personal
opinion and must be signed; they do not necessarily reflect
the opinion of the publishers. Copy must be with the editor
by the 18th of the month.
Items in the Templer Record now go on to the TSA’s
homepage on the Internet. Contributors who do not wish
their articles to appear on the Net should state this when
submitting copy.