Templer Record - Templesociety.com

Templer Record 

Published monthly in AUSTRALIA since 1946 

(originally “CIRCULAR of the TEMPLE SOCIETY in AUSTRALIA”) 

TS 150 – Happy Birthday! 

REFLECTIONS ............................... 2 

A Channel for Peace.................. 2 

Progressives & Climate Change 3 

REGIONAL MATTERS................... 6 

Notes from RC Meeting ............ 6 

TS150......................................... 6 

Jubilee Edition.........................6 

Founding Day Service.............. 7 

Dinner Dance ........................... 7 

Sommerfest 2012 ...................... 7 

Logo........................................... 7 

Communications Update.......... 8 

Social Care................................. 8 

MEMBERS AND FRIENDS........... 11 

Birthdays.................................. 11 

Births........................................ 11 

Marriage................................... 11 

New Member............................ 11 

Bereavements...........................12 

Obituary – Fred Sawatzky .......12 

Agape Service...........................14 

Mothers’ Day Luncheon...........15 

Volunteer Awards ....................15 

Art Exhibition ..........................16 

Men’s Advance .........................17 

SYDNEY ........................................20 

Combined TS150 Service .........21 

SOUTH AUSTRALIA .................... 23 

YOUTH.......................................... 24 

CONTENTS June 2011 

Youth Calendar........................24 

Babysitters...............................24 

TTHA .............................................25 

Dear Friends............................25 

NOTICES ...................................... 28 

Coming Services ..................... 28 

Flower Roster ......................... 28 

Discussion Forum .................. 28 

Templer Talk .......................... 28 

Confirmation 2011...................29 

Religious Philosophy...............29 

Sonnwendfeier 2011 ................29 

TTHA Laternenzug ................ 30 

Bentleigh Working Bee............ 31 

Craft Sessions .......................... 31 

Wu Tao Workshop...................32 

Reunion 1937, 38, 39...............32 

THE HERITAGE PAGES ..............33 

From our Past..........................33 

Books – Templer History ........37 

LAWNMOWING ROSTERS..........39 

CALENDAR JUNE ....................... 40 

In deutscher Sprache: 

Gewaltfreiheit................................. 2 

TTHA – Liebe Freunde ................ 26

Page 2 Templer Record 739 – June 2011 

GEWALTFREIHEIT – Non-violence 

REFLECTIONS 

Die Welt von morgen wird, ja muss eine Gesellschaft sein, die sich auf 

Gewaltfreiheit gründet. Dies mag ein entferntes Ziel sein, ein unpraktisches 

Utopia. Aber es ist nicht im geringsten unerreichbar, da man dafür hier und 

jetzt arbeiten kann. 

Ein Einzelner kann den Lebensstil der Zukunft praktizieren, in Gewaltfreiheit, 

ohne auf andere warten zu müssen. Und wenn es ein Einzelner 

kann, können es nicht auch Gruppen, ganze Nationen? (See also page 5) 

Die Menschen zögern oft, einen Anfang zu machen, da sie fühlen, dass das 

Ziel nicht vollständig erreicht werden kann. Diese Geisteshaltung ist genau 

unser größtes Hindernis, das jeder Mensch, sofern er nur will, aus dem Weg 

räumen kann. 

Mahatma Gandhi 

A CHANNEL FOR PEACE 

As I live every day, 

I want to be a channel for peace. 

May I bring love where there is hatred, 

and healing where there is hurt; 

joy where there is sadness, 

and hope where there is fear. 

I pray that I may always try 

to understand and comfort other people, 

as well as seeking comfort and understanding from them. 

Wherever possible, may I choose to be 

a light in the darkness, 

a help in times of need, 

a caring and honest friend. 

May justice, kindness and peace 

flow from my heart forever. Amen. 

Progressive version of an old prayer, adapted by 

Scott Kearns and Gretta Vosper, As I Live © 2005

Templer Record 739 – June 2011 Page 3 

SOME ISSUES that concern us in our 150 th year 

The February Templer Record began by referring to our journey to and 

through the TS150 year. It asked: where can we discern the ‘lifeblood pulse 

of God-life deep within good Earth – and so in us,’ quoted in the page 2 

poem. 

In the Bible and in the history of Christianity, not much is said about the 

good Earth. These days many researchers, including theologians, question 

the mainstream Churches’ basic teachings or doctrines, (but may not be able 

to say in the pulpit what they really think and believe). Careful study of the 

Bible canon (those books among many that were chosen to be included in it) 

as well as gospels not included (like the Gospel of Thomas found in Nag 

Hammadi, 1945) has shown that other translations and interpretations are 

not only possible, but often more accurate. This is upsetting to the blind 

faith of the indoctrinated, where doubt and questioning are not allowed. 

How the ancient storytellers figured the world worked and imagined God 

need not and should not be read as revealed truth, although there are deep 

insights in some of the stories. 

Theology – the study of God, divine things, the Mystery – has, or should 

have, moved on. Of course, traditional conservative forces (prime example: 

the Vatican) resist change, especially if it erodes their power and authority. 

It matters what we believe, because that influences how we act. What 

about Templer beliefs, your own beliefs and assumptions? (See also 

February TR pages 3 & 4) 

A recent PCNV talk addressed Eco-justice, Climate Change and What 

Progressive Theology has to do with it. Scientist and theologian the Rev. Dr 

Morag Logan spoke clearly and succinctly about the reality of Climate 

Change (all credible global scientific studies point to it, she says) and the 

catastrophic effect it will have on millions of people. Part of the cause is 

Western man’s arrogant attitude, based on one of the two creation stories in 

the Book of Genesis that begins the Old Testament (extracts below): 

Genesis 1:26 – Let us make humankind in our image, according 

to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish… birds… 

cattle… wild animals… 

27 so God created… male and female… 

28 God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and 

multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over 

all its creatures and plants.’ 

Another speaker at PCNV (11.10.2009), the Rev. Dr Rufus Black from 

Ormond College, called this attitude the ‘Mt Olympus Syndrome’, men


behaving like the Greek gods on Mt Olympus, feeling separate from and 

superior to the earth below and doing as they please, with no thought for the 

consequences – rape the Earth, burn her lungs (the rainforests) to make 

space for palm oil plantations, never mind the orang utans or other 

creatures, chip old growth forests for private gain, never mind the common 

good or the awful effect on a million others. 

In contrast, native cultures, Celtic spirituality and women tend to value and 

care for the land, nature and its creatures, springs and clean agriculture for 

the sake of their tribe and their children’s grandchildren. Their 

belief/attitude is more that they belong to the land and don’t own it as 

individuals. (These people are considered heathens and inferior by the 

militant arm of the Christian Church, but certainly not by all Christians.) 

Dr Black also emphasised that changing attitudes is crucial: seeing man, 

humanity as part of the web of life, inter-related, with responsibility for one 

another and the environment – acting with more humility and restraint, 

limiting our consumption, being fairer to all, which progressive scholar John 

Dominic Crossan calls ‘God’s distributive justice’. So that the ‘kingdom of 

God’ can come about. 

A question to Dr Logan (who does research on Climate Change for the 

French Government) was ‘How do we know it’s not just the end of an ice 

age, a natural, cyclical occurrence?’ Because of the unprecedented rate of 

change. She showed a rocky picture of the Engadine Valley: a whole glacier 

gone in ten years! 

A big issue is: whose voice can we trust? News reports are shallow and 

slanted towards the sensational grab, not reasoned argument. The opinions 

(and aren’t we an opinionated culture now!) of shock jocks, or a ‘heroic’ 

rebel scientist (who may be a nuclear physicist or a molecular biologist with 

no expertise in climate change) are often given more prominence than less 

‘sexy’ climate scientists’ data. Then there are the powerful lobby groups (e.g. 

mining, tobacco) unwilling to share their profits for the greater good. So how 

can an effective plan of action be formed and promoted to counteract the 

enormous change coming ever faster towards us? 

Interestingly, the May Warte tackles related issues. The French movement 

Décroissance protests against the mantra of ever greater economic growth 

based on consumerism and its massively ‘more-than-enough’ for a few, to 

the detriment of very many others who have nothing. Instead, it advocates a 

lifestyle of ‘enough’, of voluntary moderation, so that a great many more can 

share in the limited available resources on our Earth – a social and ecojustice 

issue. Dr Brigitte Hoffmann (who has a talent for analysis) adds 

considerations for and against. How could CO2 emissions be decreased and


a fairer distribution of resources be achieved, and with what side effects? 

Followers of Jesus’s way of thinking are concerned with such issues. Good 

on those of you who are into Landcare, organic farming/vegie patches, solar 

panels or supporting poor children or communities, etc. But is this enough? 

What else can individuals or groups do? Gandhi says an individual can 

practise a lifestyle for the future, non-violently, without having to wait for 

others. And if one person can do it, why not groups and whole nations? 

People often don’t make a start for fear of not reaching the goal one hundred 

percent. This attitude is our greatest obstacle which each individual, if 

he/she only wants to, can overcome. (See page 2) 

Those forms of Christianity focused on the Apocalypse, the Second Coming 

or Heaven are not so concerned with eco-spirituality, with nurturing ‘sinful 

dirty’ Earth. Much like Muslim jihadists, they might be tempted to blow up 

the world to get to heaven faster – heaven forbid! 

Progressive, open Christians, including Templers, must concern themselves 

with changing attitudes (non-violently) and the language relating to egodriven 

‘Olympian’ hubris that wants to dominate others and the natural 

world for individual gain, or even ‘for God’. Can you think of expressions you 

use that need changing? The corporate world is full of them. You will need 

courage, but it’s important. 

The Temple Society has overcome massive hurdles on its 150-year journey. 

It has evolved, regrouped and adapted when that was required. New 

challenges will face us in the future. We will need to keep building bridges of 

understanding with like-minded people all over the world (and also with 

others), to vouchsafe a livable future for our descendants, where ‘kingdom of 

God’-like communities can thrive, healing, nurturing, sustaining and 

evolving the marvellous and ‘sacred’ web of life that we are all a part of. 

In terms of our TS150 motto, it means consciously carrying our spiritual 

heritage forward. It means being aware of our responsibility to be active 

temple(r)s, in whom the spirit of love and respect for others as ourselves, for 

Nature and for the Creative Life-force in and behind it all, motivates what 

we think, say and do. 

May we encourage one another to rise to the challenge. 

Herta Uhlherr


REGIONAL MATTERS 

NOTES from the Regional Council Meeting of 6 th May 

It was decided that it is timely to organise a fast broadband service at the 

Bayswater Hall. This will facilitate meetings held there, the pending 

Founding Day service (where we are hoping to create a Skype video link with 

Sydney) as well as providing internet access for the Heritage Room and the 

German School. Wireless access to the connection can also be made 

available to any member who has a use for it out there – contact me at the 

Office for details. 

The TSA has now subscribed for a ‘Premium Service’ with Skype, which 

means multiple users (rather than just 2) can make use of a Skype video 

connection for meetings. These do not necessarily need to be conducted 

from TSA premises and may be useful to any of our Focus and Interest 

Groups – once again, contact me at the Office for details. 

Still on the internet theme, we have heard that the Federal Budget extended 

funding for the continuation of the ‘Broadband for Seniors’ program. This 

means we will be able to continue with the subsidised Kiosks we have. The 

one in Bentleigh is open whenever the Office is open – any member is 

welcome to make use of it anytime. Access to the Bayswater Kiosk is by 

arrangement with either Tony Beilharz or Martina Eaton – not quite as 

convenient, but I’m sure Tony and Martina will make it as easy as possible. 

I mentioned last month that Mary-Anne Peters was to be our new cleaner in 

Bentleigh. That did not transpire and I’m pleased to advise that Monika 

Imberger put her hand up for the job and has taken it on. 

TS150 

John Maddock, Administration Manager 

Jubilee Edition 

The Templer Elders are working on a special edition to mark TS150 

Founding Day. Please get in touch ASAP with coordinator Herta Uhlherr if 

you can put your hands on, or write, something about the way our faith has 

evolved. Our themes are: facing the future, reflecting the past, building 

bridges of understanding, Unterwegs zur Freiheit im Glauben (TGD). 

Deadline mid-June. 

Herta Uhlherr, for the Elders 

Do you find this TR easier to read than previous issues? Feedback to Office.


A combined TS150 Founding Day service is scheduled for Bayswater 

and Meadowbank on the morning of Sunday 19 th June. Ingrid Turner and 

I are planning a Melbourne/Sydney hook-up – hopefully with audio and 

vision – for another shared experience. At this time we will also be thinking 

of our German counterparts, as they commemorate the occasion with special 

events in Degerloch and Korntal. Several Australians will be there, including 

our President. 

Next month’s Dinner Dance on Saturday 16 th July at Freccia Azzurra Club 

in Keysborough is filling well, with bookings already numbering 198. But, 

you still have some time – until Thursday 30 th June – to organise your table 

for this special anniversary party! For all details please refer to past Templer 

Record issues or contact the TSA Office. 

Apart from emblazoning publicity material surrounding the occasion, a 

more permanent application of the TS150 logo – in the form of building 

plaques – has been approved by Regional Council. 

SOMMERFEST 2012 

Next year’s community event is scheduled to take place on Sunday 18 th 

March. No sooner has the last piece of equipment been packed away from 

this time, than planning for the next time begins. Sommerfest 2011 was 

organised and run by an extremely efficient and hard-working Interest 

Group. Not all of its members are able to continue in this role, so fresh and 

willing faces are required. Are you in a position to contribute your time and 

energy, or do you want to know more? If so, please contact me. 

LOGO 

The Communication & Promotion Focus Group, with external volunteer 

assistance, has been focussing on many aspects of TSA publicity – branding, 

advertising and promoting – through particular styles and formats. 

A revised and stylised TSA logo – equally functional in colour or black/white 

– is herewith presented and will be progressively introduced into our 

operations. 

Mark Herrmann, Regional Head


COMMUNICATING WITH OUR MEMBERS 

Effective communication between members and friends of the Temple 

Society is an essential element of community life. TSA Online, an email 

service, has been running for over two years, and is proving to be a very 

effective way of informing members of activities, and sending out short-term 

notices for events such as funerals. TSA Online has meant that many 

members no longer need to participate in the telephone trees. The 

membership directory has assisted with keeping members in touch with 

each other. 

It is time to update the Melbourne telephone tree and the TSA membership 

directory, so we need your input. 

Would you please contact the TSA Office by the end of June 2011 if: 

� Your details in the membership directory need updating, including 

phone numbers and email addresses. 

� You now have access to email, and no longer need to be on the 

telephone tree because you can receive the TSA Online. 

� You can assist with the effective running of the Melbourne telephone 

tree, by being a key contact within the structure or by lending a hand 

with the creation of the tree. 

Renate Beilharz, on behalf of the Communication & Promotion FG 

THE TS150 GREETINGS just received from Stuttgart will be in the 

Jubilee edition. 

PCNV – next meeting 19 th June 3:00-5:00pm www.pcnvictoria.org.au 

Topic: The Practice of the Mystical Path; see website for location. 

SOCIAL CARE 

Dear Friends, 

As the year progresses and it is getting colder, I urge all, in particular our 

senior members, to have a flu vaccination. There has been a flu outbreak 

already this season, as well as a very bad gastro virus, which is circulating. It 

is important that we all look after ourselves to avoid becoming sick, through 

appropriate immunisation, eating fresh fruit and vegetables, washing our 

hands regularly and drinking lots of water. Please contact your local GP for 

more information on having the flu vaccination.


‘Home Free’: As you would have read in last month's TR, Mark and I have 

been working closely with Amara Wagner and her family to make real her 

goal of living independently in her own home. Amara will be moving to 

Bayswater in September 2011. This is very exciting (and slightly daunting) 

for all who have been involved in this project for some time now, and I 

would like to reiterate to all of our community members how much we need 

your help and support to realise this goal. I would like to ensure that 

everyone understands there is no specific training you need to help Amara 

to live the independent life she wants. You may be asking, ‘How can I help? I 

don’t know what Amara’s needs are!’ If this is you, please contact me and I 

will be happy to answer all of your questions to the best of my ability. It is 

important we have as much help as possible, even if you can only help for a 

short time, as everybody has an important role in this transition. As a 

community full of kind and caring people, I know many of you who can, will 

put your hands up to assist. We will be holding an information session in 

early July. Please register your interest in this session where we will inform 

you more thoroughly of Amara’s needs. Thank you in advance! 

Photos and report about the Men’s Advance begin on page 17. A huge 

thankyou to Bernie Hoefer for his hard work in facilitating this event and 

being the main contact person whilst on the weekend! Thanks Hoovy! 

A Wu Tao workshop will be run by Karin Williamson on 25 th June at the 

Bentleigh Hall. This is a fundraiser for the Careworker Youth Project (see 

May TR page 30). We hope you can come along for a great day. 

A Carers Vic event, ‘Mingle’, will be held on Thursday 28 th July from 

10:30am to 1:30pm in Frankston. I have two more tickets left for carers who 

would like to attend. If possible, we will car pool in two cars, so please 

contact me to book in. 

The Women’s Retreat is the next main event that I am organising. This is 

the third year it has been run and it is growing more and more popular. This 

year we are having a ‘Declutter your Life’ workshop, massages, foot spas, a 

singing circle and many more activities, as well as lots of time to relax and 

chat to friends, make new friends and have a good time. Please contact 

me ASAP for a booking form and return it as soon as possible to ensure you 

don’t miss your place! 

Frauenverein Mothers’ Day lunch was held on 10 th May in Bentleigh 

with approximately 35 women attending. A HUGE thankyou to Helga 

Anderson for preparing the majority of the food and our helpers on the day, 

Gisela Schmidt and Renate Hoffmann-Lu. (See report on page 15)


SPAK: Single Parents Active Kids is an awesome organisation I have come 

across only recently. They have some great activities throughout Victoria for 

single parents. Feel free to contact me if you are a single parent and would 

like more information about this not-for-profit group and their events which 

are held regularly in all areas. Alternatively, you can contact Moush directly 

at info@singleparentsactivekids.org 

Website: www.singleparentsactivekids.org 

Freebies and useful websites 

www.raisingchildren.net.au is a fantastic website for parents raising 

children from newborns to teens and all the ages in between, as well as 

pregnancy information, parenting a child with special needs or parenting 

after separation. They have fact sheets, recipes, news and latest information 

as well as tools and activities to keep your children busy. 

Invitation to ‘It’s a bloke thing’ on Friday 17 th June. Monday 13 th - 

Friday 17 th June is Men’s Health Week. In recognition of this, Manningham 

Social Support is hosting a special event at Bulleen and Templestowe Senior 

Citizens Centre just for blokes. ‘This year will be our fourth year of running 

the Social Support Men’s Health Forum – ‘It’s Just a Bloke Thing’. The 

theme for this year’s Forum is ‘One thing can lead to another’, which is 

about understanding that one health issue can lead to another and then 

another, and to emphasise that prevention, early detection and proper 

treatment is the key to good health. Dr Crimmins will talk about what health 

screening men over 50 should have. Tom Churchward from Austin Health 

will speak about the serious health topic of sleep apnoea. We have invited a 

variety of guest speakers to further explore interesting and insightful health 

concerns.’ 

When: Friday 17th June, Registration 9:15am 

Official opening 9:30am, Forum 9:45am-2:15pm 

Where: Bulleen and Templestowe Senior Citizens Centre 

Corner Balmoral and Manningham Road, Templestowe Lower 

Melways reference 33 A9 

Cost: $10.00 (Includes buffet lunch) 

For a copy of the program or to confirm your booking, please call the Social 

Support office on 9840 9700. 

Keep Smiling �, 

Martina Eaton, Community Care Worker 

email: careworker@templesociety.org.au

GEBURTSTAGE – BIRTHDAYS 


MEMBERS AND FRIENDS 

Wir gratulieren herzlich zum Geburtstag unserer Mitglieder: 

Ewald Katz Gunter Weller 

Skaidra Blaich Trudy Herrmann 

Roland Hapke Alfred Klink 

Anni Kuebler Uta Steller 

Hugo Weller Helga Sawatzky 

Alma Schulz Lilli Kuhnle 

Werner Steller Charlotte Trefz 

Ursula Wurm Lothar Streker 

und wünschen auch allen hier nicht angeführten Geburtstagskindern alles 

Gute und Schöne zum neuen Lebensjahr – Happy Birthday! 

BIRTHS 

A boy, Logan Chase and a girl, Madison Jade born on 15.3.2011, 

twins for Aidan and Natalie Steller and a brother and a sister for Jordyn. 

Sarah Klingbeil born on 26.3.2011 in Radolfzell, Germany 

Parents: Stefan and Jeanny Klingbeil 

Many Australian Templers met Karin, Jörg and Stefan Klingbeil when they 

were here, or on TS Israel tours, and will share their joy. 

MARRIAGE 

Tania Richter and Damon Cuming on 2. 4.2011 at Caulfield Park. 

The bride’s father, Theo Richter, was the celebrant. 

NEW MEMBER – We welcome Richard Herrmann


BEREAVEMENTS 

Friedrich Sawatzky passed away peacefully on 13.4.2011, aged 

77. He is survived by his wife, Gisela Sawatzky, children Bernd and 

Birgit and grandchildren Cameron, Luke, Jayme, Brody and 

Kayden. We remember Fred for his generosity, enthusiasm and 

positive outlook on life. 

Sincere thanks to Renate Weber for organising such a richly 

detailed and beautiful funeral service, and all those who spoke to 

Fred's memory on the day. Also a sincere thankyou for the 

numerous and beautiful cards and the generous donations to the 

TSA and TTHA. 

He will be greatly missed by all. 

� � � 

Irmgard Katz née Weber passed away at TTHA on 30.4.2011, 

aged 88 years. 

She will be sadly missed by her husband Fritz, daughters Erika 

Herrmann and Barbara Daross and son Peter and the extended 

family. 

Our sincere thanks go to Mark Herrmann for conducting the 

memorial service and to the many relatives and friends for their 

condolences. 

Our sincere condolences to all the families. 

OBITUARY – Friedrich Sawatzky 

At a very well attended memorial service on 19.4.2011, Renate Weber and 

family members gave moving tributes to Fred. This contribution honours 

his service to the Templer Community. 

Friedrich Sawatzky was a hard-working contributor to the TSA, regularly 

volunteering his time and talents to initiatives, programs and committees of 

the Templer Community. He possessed the rare combination of being both 

an ideas man and one prepared to roll up his sleeves to work towards 

implementing them. 

I first met Friedrich in an official TSA capacity back in 1983. As then Head of 

the Boronia Community Council, he was also an ex-officio member of 

Regional Council, the TSA’s main governing body, whereas I was serving 

there as Youth Group President. So, apart from regular commitments and


responsibilities associated with heading the Boronia Community, Friedrich 

also fronted up on the first Friday evening of every month to report on 

Boronia and contribute to Regional Council meetings. He retired as 

Community Head in 1985 after serving in this capacity for about 7 years, 

staunchly resisting another re-election in the knowledge that change, 

preferably a younger leader, was necessary. 

During this period Friedrich – together with Traude Glenk, Erika Herrmann 

and the late Heinz Vollmer – was part of a TSA kindergarten committee. 

They planned, prepared and instigated the Templer Playgroup, which began 

in May 1982 under the leadership of Denise Imberger. At the time, Denise 

wrote in the Templer Record: ‘With such generous backing from the TSA 

and its Community, I am sure the Playgroup will be a success, not only now, 

but in the future.’ Through the vision and efforts of Friedrich and his fellow 

committee members, Denise’s words have proven correct; the weekly 

Playgroup is still going strong with the next generation of young folk and 

their parents. 

At the Annual General Meeting of September 2002, Friedrich was elected to 

represent the TSA on the Committee of Management of the Tabulam & 

Templer Homes for the Aged (TTHA). Only a few months later, following 

office bearer elections, he chaired his first meeting as Committee President. 

Not only did this reintroduce Friedrich to the Regional Council – another 

ex-officio appointment – but it began a three-year stint of deep involvement 

in all aspects of the management of the aged care facility. This has never 

been an easy position and required all of Friedrich’s business experience, 

people and negotiating skills. Only those with a close connection with TTHA, 

or similar, would have any proper understanding of the commitment and 

sheer hard work necessary. 

For all of this, and more, I salute Friedrich as a fine Templer and as a 

wonderful man. We owe him our gratitude. There is an Indian saying that 

‘those who dream the most do the most’ – Friedrich certainly did. 

Mark Herrmann


AGAPE SERVICE – Thursday 23 rd April 

Twelve of us sat down around the table in the Chapel fellowship room, ready 

to enjoy another Agape service and some time out in the oft-frantic days 

before Easter. 

Helga Jürgensen led us in the service, with Renate Weber once again 

stepping up to do the catering. 

The Agape service has become an eagerly anticipated event for some 

regulars and attracts some newcomers every year. Agape is a Greek word for 

compassionate or ‘brotherly’ love (Jesus’ love) and the underlying theme of 

this special reflection time is born from the three G’s in German: Gebet, 

Gedenken and Gemeinschaft, or prayer, reflection and togetherness. The 

ideas of nourishment and unity (found in community) are central to the 

evening, hence the simple meal taken together as part of the service. This 

meal also serves as a reminder of the last meal Jesus shared with his 

disciples before being nailed to the cross on Good Friday. 

The notion of love is explored through prayer, readings, singing and music, 

and light becomes an important part of the experience. 

The Chapel at nighttime is a lovely place to be and transforms itself into an 

even more special place when lit with candles after the sun has gone down. 

The fellowship room was adorned with tealights and taper candles and, 

when the lights were turned off, these magical flames reflected themselves in 

every glass surface of the Chapel. 

As we sat listening to music, the whole Chapel seemed to twinkle. I saw 

flames in the glass display cabinet in the foyer, reflected in the front Chapel 

doors, glowing seemingly from within the Sunday school room, emitting 

from Elizabeth St, lighting up the little square windows out to the 

playground, going down the driveway, gleaming from within the Chapel 

body and, most spectacularly of all, mirrored down on to us from the glass 

ceiling under which we were sitting. I have never seen the Chapel more 

beautiful! 

The following words come from a reading shared at Agape: 

The Light of Love 

lift it up, hold it high, 

write it clear across the sky, 

burn it deep within your soul, 

live it well and live it whole. 

Nothing more is needed, nothing less will do, 

For nothing else can take the place of love. 

Scott Kearns


In the true spirit of love, we thought of those who need much of it right now, 

and in the true spirit of community we acknowledged our friends in 

Degerloch, Germany, about to share an Agape experience a few hours after 

us. We emailed them greetings, and the greetings they sent back were read 

out after the Easter Service in Bentleigh. 

Huge thanks to Helga and Renate for facilitating another wonderful evening. 

MOTHERS' DAY LUNCHEON 

Christine Ruff 

The Mothers' Day Luncheon in the Bentleigh Hall on Tuesday 10 th May, 

attended by 35 women, was a happy and heart-warming event. It was 

pleasing to see so many young ladies, many of whom had taken time off 

work to be with their mothers for this occasion. 

After Helga Anderson welcomed the gathering, the busy helpers in the 

kitchen delighted our palates with pumpkin soup, quiche and later cupcakes 

and coffee. 

Jacki Wagner, who had kindly agreed to be my ‘substitute daughter’, gave us 

a very interesting and informative talk about her 12 years as midwife in the 

maternity section at the Angliss Hospital. We wish Jacki success and 

satisfaction for her further studies. 

See another picture on page 39 

VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION AWARDS 

Gretel Krockenberger 

At the Glen Eira Council’s annual volunteer recognition award ceremony last 

month, it was again my pleasure to attend and to witness our Brass 

Ensemble members receiving their Special Awards (for 10 years’ or more 

continuous service). In fact, with something like half a century of playing for 

the TSA at services, community events and on other occasions, perhaps the 

gentlemen should each have received five awards! 

Volker Bulach, Kurt Eppinger and Kurt Katz joined over 100 other 

municipal volunteers to be presented with their personalised certificates and 

stick pins by the Mayor, Cr Margaret Esakoff. The fourth long-serving 

member of the Ensemble, Helmut Graumenz, is presently overseas, and so 

was unable to attend.


It was appropriate and pleasing to have both Gisela Bulach and Doris Katz 

share in the occasion. Sonnwendfeier – on Saturday 18 th June – will be the 

next community event at which our Blaskapelle will be contributing. Many 

thanks, gentlemen! 

ART EXHIBITION in Roseville NSW 

Mini Profile – Rolf Beck 

Mark Herrmann, Regional Head 

With my wife Marjorie, I enjoy exploring Australia’s Outback, the arid and 

semi-arid regions and anywhere my beloved persoonias (or geebungs) may 

be growing. 

Over the last eight years, I have become increasingly obsessed with native 

Australian plants and with trying to capture their sheer beauty by 

photographing them. As a terrible photographer (shaky hands due to 

excitement and being over 25), I needed to improve my images and the 

computer appeared to be the best means to do this. 

But I found myself progressively and more dramatically ‘modifying’ (not 

‘improving’) my images, and developing a range of styles, forms and strong 

colours to best suit my interpretation of, and emotional response to, my 

chosen subjects. Initially my images were still recognisable as objects in 

nature, but are increasingly abstractions, my response to what delights me 

in the bush. I like to imagine that I can call my work Digital Image 

Impressions and that it will contribute to an appreciation, a heightened 

awareness of the unique – and threatened – bushland flowers we need to 

conserve. 

Rather than my ambushing every visitor to our home with ‘Have you seen 

my latest?’, Marjorie urged me to have an exhibition. So you are invited to 

come and see The Three of Us at Impression Framing and Gallery on Pacific


Highway, opposite Roseville Railway Station in suburban Sydney. It’s on till 

3 rd June from 10:00am to 4:00pm. 

MEN ADVANCE TO THE SUMMIT – Part One 

Rolf Beck 

Our imbedded journalist – Wolfgang (aka ‘Crazy Clown’) reports on the 

success of the men’s latest mission to reclaim ‘The Summit’ near Trafalgar in 

Gippsland. 

‘On the weekend of 14- 

15 th May, our valiant 

alliance between the 

Aussie Diggers and the 

Yankee Grunts fell to 

pieces under ‘friendly 

fire’ whilst we were trying 

to reclaim territory from 

each other in the battle 

for The Summit. Amidst 

the hail of laser fire and 

the dirty guerrilla tactics 

by both undisciplined 

platoons in the heavily 

wooded battlefield, the 

bloodless casualties piled up on both teams, only to be ‘re-spawned’ by the 

trusty electronic First-Aid kit. The hapless soldiers threw themselves again 

and again into the heat of battle enduring the mud, cold, leeches and the 

sniper fire, safe in the knowledge that Bin Laden was dead and that 

immortality would be granted by the push of a little red button... We 

commend their feeble attempts to adhere to the Geneva Convention on 

warfare, we shake our heads at their total lack of discipline and moral fibre 

and give thanks to those who so valiantly sacrificed their ‘Health Points’ in 

stupid ways (no names come to mind) in order to allow the opposition to try 

to improve their aim and have a laugh. I salute you all, my Brothers in Arms. 

I would have called you soldiers, but you definitely do not deserve it. Until 

we meet again to battle it out once more, please do not enlist, your country 

does not need you!’ 

Friday 13 th May Evening – the Launch of the Menz Weekend 

It all started with pizza and ales in the Bayswater Community room as a 

quiet and restrained meeting of blokes intent on ‘getting away from it all’


and getting back in 

touch with their primal 

urges. The camaraderie 

started to build on the 

bus trip, aided by a 

quick detour to visit 

our mate Dan Murphy, 

who obligingly helped 

to lubricate and loosen 

tongues. Introductions 

were swift and names 

quickly forgotten, but 

bonds were formed, 

jokes and innuendo 

flowed freely, and by 

the time we spilled out 

of the bus at our destination, bro-mances were starting to blossom. Serious 

catching up of old friends and interrogation of new friends carried on late 

into the night by the glow of the fire. Fermented malt cordial (some distilled 

and some not) was knocked back, nibblies were eaten, theories on how to 

understand women were exchanged and the problems of the world were 

discussed and solved before midnight. At some point we all managed to find 

(separate) beds to try ‘planking’ on and the frosty night air was filled with 

the sound of many logs being slowly cut with handsaws of various sizes (aka 

snoring). 

Saturday 14 th May 

Bacon, eggs... what? Its 10am already. Pete, our mentor and ‘bloke who is 

supposed to look after us’, had arrived and had organised a morning for us 

with Suzie who, he assured us, was ‘difficult to control’. Suzie was able to 

take on 4 blokes at a time in the mud whilst showing up how poor our 

communication and control skills were. Eager to meet this legendary 

woman, we all marched to the race track (aka swamp with tyres thrown in) 

to discover that Suzie was a 4WD manual Suzuki car with some challenging 

modifications. The brake pedal was in the front passenger seat floor and the 

clutch was on the rear passenger floor. The ‘driver’ operated the steering and 

accelerator, the front passenger the brake, gearshift and handbrake. One of 

the rear passengers worked the clutch and the ignition whilst the other rear 

seat passenger was the only person in the car ‘allowed’ to talk and was thus 

required to direct proceedings. Time penalties were meted out for stalling 

the vehicle, sounding the horn, crunching the gears or touching the tyres 

that lined the race circuit. Just in case that was not complex enough for 

‘mere males’, 3 driver rotations were scheduled into the drive around the 

circuit.


We split into 5 teams. Negotiating the circuit once with all the required 

manoeuvres, cursing, time penalties, laughing, driver swapping, unhelpful 

suggestions from the spectators and bellows of Mensch, gib Gas, took 

approximately 15 minutes. The times for completing the course were getting 

successively longer, which had nothing to do with lack of skill or 

enthusiasm. The rain had softened the course to such an extent that after 3 

laps of the circuit, the swamp had turned into a slippery mud pit with almost 

no traction in some areas. The final 2 teams dispensed with the rules as it 

became evident that some corners were clearly unable to be negotiated 

without everyone in the car 

telling each other what they 

wanted the others to do. As 

always, when you mix men 

with motors and mud it will 

usually end with crazy ideas 

being tried, causing mayhem 

and mirth. We can say that, 

in order to make some more 

room for negotiating a 

particularly slippery corner, 

Team #5 – with a normally 

sedate and un-assuming 

driver – decided that some 

tyres needed to be moved in the search for vital traction. An extremely 

uncharacteristic (for said sedate driver) and desperate manoeuvre was 

employed, involving Wide Open Throttle in first gear and full opposite lock 

on the steering. Some tyres (not Suzie’s) were sacrificed, the track was 

widened a little, laughter was elicited, traction was gained, cheers rang out 

across the swamp and the course was completed in a record (longest) time. 

We all pitched in to repair the ‘damage’ to the track (aka we chucked the 

tyres back to where they originally were), parked Suzie back at the starting 

line and marvelled at the new camo brown colour scheme that had been 

applied to her curvaceous bodywork during the morning. 

As the euphoria died down and the laughter subsided, Pete – yes the bloke 

who was supposed to be looking after us gave us 2 suggestions for the next 

activity of the day: ‘Do you want to go abseiling or drive the army tank 

around?’ Yeah, boys – is this a menz weekend or WHAT!!! Guess 

what we picked? 

Stay tuned for another instalment of the thrilling Menz Advance Weekend 

coverage (aka Terrific Read!) later. See also photo on page 32. 

Menz Advance Recruit #08rdg (Rolf Glenk)


SYDNEY 

Herta Uhlherr held our our Good Friday Service. It was quite a different 

service, as many members of the community read read parts of the Passion story 

as if they were in the middle of it. Whilst a number of the players found this this 

task confronting, they they 

bravely pulled it off. The 

different perspectives of 

these Romans, bystanders, 

soldiers or disciples 

telling us about what 

was happening and how 

it affected them were 

fascinating and made the 

story more complex and 

compelling. Herta also 

showed that, though this this 

22.4.2011 at Meadowbank 

biblical story may be 

Photo Ingrid Turner 

more myth than reality, 

there are many parts to 

it that reflect issues and dilemmas that continue to affect our lives now, 

including betrayal, loss, bullying, bullying, being let down, suffering, mob anger, 

‘crucifying’ someone inconvenient inconvenient because you can. 

Despite Julie Drinkwater’s absence, the kids (and a few bigger kids) made 

many pieces of craft, then enjoyed a big Easter egg hunt. 

Thanks to Julie for setting that up 

for us and to Anita for running Kids’ 

Club Sunday School. Anny Beck, 

Gisela Tautz, Rolf Beck and Anita 

Jensen provided a lovely lunch and 

the Easter bunny proved so 

Hands and craft after the Good Friday Service 

Picture Ingrid Turner 

generous to our kids, that they 

decided to go around and share their 

eggs with all the grown ups. Th Thank ank 

you, kids! 

Despite the solemn nature of Good 

Friday, the mood amongst the 

community was one of warmth and happiness. I think this was because most 

of those present contributed to the day in some way and so it was really 

special for most of us. It was great to have Jennifer Yeh back on the piano, 

and we were very grateful to Herta for coming from Melbourne and


organising such an enriching experience for and with us. 

[Dear Sydney Templers, I presented you with a number of challenges which 

you rose to beautifully – it felt great to have so many of you involved and 

giving something new a go – thank you! H.U.] 

After inconvenient parking issues were sorted, the Seniors’ Group toured 

Old Government House at North Parramatta on the 12 th of May. It was fun 

to see how many of the treasured antique household gadgets had been used 

by our group when they were children in Palestine – this confirms my 

opinion that our group are living treasures themselves. The wellproportioned 

rooms were large and beautifully furnished. Our guide gave us 

some snapshot descriptions of the way the house was run; one could nearly 

picture the entrance hall filled with farmers and ex-convicts all waiting 

anxiously to meet the governor. I loved hearing that very secret meetings 

were held in Governor Macquarie’s bedroom because there was no cellar 

underneath it where prying ears were possibly listening. 

Afterwards, we lunched very elegantly at Lachlan’s Restaurant at 

Parramatta, chatting and laughing. I think most had a good afternoon. We 

then walked to our distantly parked cars through a sunny autumn day. 

My husband Mark has just returned, exhausted but happy, from the Men’s 

Advance Weekend. He reports that Chris Hoffmann, Peter O’Laughlin and 

himself survived the retreat and, despite lots of mud, they found the natives 

a good lot to share the weekend with. Thanks Melbourne, our men had a 

ball. 

Coming Events 

June Service – Please note that the June service will take place at 

10:00am on 19 th June, half an hour earlier than usual and one week 

earlier than on our original calendar date, so that we can connect up and 

join in with the Melbourne TS150 Founding Day Service. Anneliese 

Hoffmann is forming a band to perform the hymn song That Happy Day at 

the Service. So any people who play an instrument or sing, please email me 

and I will forward her address. We will need to video the performance a 

week before in order to send the tape to Melbourne. We will share lunch 

again, so please bring a salad or cake. 

TS150 Party in Melbourne 

Eight of us plan to ‘gate crash’ the TS150 Dinner Dance. If you are a gate 

crashee, make sure you are booked into this Party. We need to practise an 

item for the party, can we all meet for this after the big June Service? RSVP 

to Ingrid.


Seniors’ Social Group – 10 th June 12:00 noon 

Lunch at Parramatta’s Bavarian Bier Café, cnr. Marsden and Phillip Streets 

in an old converted church. Join us for the delights of Bavarian food and 

drink only a hundred metres or so from where last month’s excursion took 

place. Reasonably priced parking is available at the rear of the café and 

down Phillip Street, either in behind the old Grace Brothers’ building (this is 

free for two hours if you buy anything in the old Grace Brothers’ Building 

and have your ticket stamped) or in the Erby Place multi-storey car park. To 

help you with this cost, you will be subsidised, so let me know at the 

restaurant. 

School Holiday Fun 

On 6 th July we will hold a pamper and craft day for Mums and a play and 

movie day for the kids aged 5 to 14. We are sorting out the details; if you 

have school kids or grandkids, save the day in your diaries. 

Women’s Retreat 

Sydney Girls, remember to book in for the Women’s Retreat on 12 th -14 th 

August ASAP. 

June 

� Seniors’ Social Group: Friday 10th June 11:00am, Parramatta 

Bavarian Bier Café, 2-8 Phillip Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150 

� Saal: Sunday 19th June 10:00am, joint TS150 Founding Day 

Service linked in with Melbourne for this major Service (Duty: Brigitte 

Lewis) 

July 

� Holiday Fun: 6th July 

� Seniors’ Social Group: Friday 8th July 11:00am 

� July Service: Sunday 24th July 10:30am Hartmut Beck (Duty: Erika 

Schulz) 

Ingrid Turner, Community Development Worker 

email: ingridt@tpg.com.au


SOUTH AUSTRALIA 

Ein kurzer Bericht aus Südaustralien, um zu zeigen, dass wir noch leben, 

obwohl unser Durchschnittsalter ständig zunimmt. 

Unser letzter Saal war am 10. April in Tanunda, mit 9 Teilnehmern. Uli 

Asenstorfer las einen Vortrag von Ilse Birkner vor, nach einem Text aus dem 

Alten Testament Buch Prediger von ca. 300 v.Chr. ‘Fröhlichkeit ist eine 

Gabe Gottes, seid fröhlich in der Arbeit und im ganzen Leben.’ Wir fragen 

uns manchmal: Wie kann Gott Naturkatastrophen zulassen? Wir können 

Gottes Wille nicht ergründen, doch wir können dem Weg folgen, den Jesus 

uns vorgelebt hat. 

Unser nächstes Zusammenkommen ist am 12. Juni in Tanunda, in der 

Halle der St John’s Kirche um 2:00 Uhr. 

Die Frauengruppe traf sich am 18. April im Café bei der Art Gallery. Leider 

konnte Anne Stevens nicht dabei sein; sie war bei ihrer Tocher in Clare zur 

Erholung. Wir freuten uns aneinander und beschlossen, uns am 20. Juni 

am gleichen Platz wieder zu treffen. 

Rose Asenstorfer


YOUTH CALENDAR 

YOUTH 

Saturday 18th Saturday 18 June th June 

Sonnwendfeier, Winter Solstice 

Celebration 

July Snow Play Day 

Fri 26 th to Sat 27 th August Scienceworks Sleepover 

Sunday 11 th September Good Health for Life Expo 

Sunday 2nd October Dark Zone or Go Karting 

Sunday 6th November 

Family Service and Community 

Picnic 

Sunday 13th November TG Breakup and Planning Day 

Bayswater 

5:00pm 

Spotswood 

7:00pm 

Bayswater 

11:00am 

Bayswater 

11:00am 

SONNWENDFEIER – Saturday 18 th June, 5:00pm onwards, see page 29 

JULY SNOW DAY – Date TBC 

If there is enough interest in a day at the snow, we are planning to do this 

during the July school holidays (providing that snow has been falling!), so 

let Susi know if you would like to join in! 

TSA BABYSITTERS – ‘TIM TAMS’ WANTED! 

Are you aged 16 years or over? Do you like kids? Would you be interested in 

joining our Templer Babysitting Group, the Tim Tams? 

If the answer to any of these questions is ‘yes’, then contact me NOW. 

A happy birthday to: 

Susi Richter, Community Youth Coordinator 

email: susi@templesociety.org.au 

Joshua Stefanac 

Matthew Weller 

Cameron Sawatzky 

Sophie Behnke

Dear Friends, 


TTHA 

The weather has certainly turned cold with a vengeance. It seems winter has 

come early and our Home has not escaped the flu/gastro season. On 

Thursday 29 th April the first case of gastroenteritis was detected and it 

caused an avalanche of infections. Cheryl Young, our Director of Nursing, 

took all necessary steps required under those circumstances and, at the time 

of writing, the Home is still in lock-down with much internal and external 

visitation restricted. This restriction has also heavily impacted on our social 

calendar, a number of activities had to be cancelled. 

We have had a turbulent period at the Home over recent weeks. Our 

Operations Manager and bookkeeper resigned, then our CEO also tendered 

his resignation. This, of course, left our CoM with some significant decisions 

to make, both in the short and longer-term. Our CEO, Mr Johannes Achilles, 

assured us that he would remain until a successor could be found. To 

maintain continuity, the CoM decided to appoint our previous Operations 

Manager, Mrs Natasha Wilkinson, to the position of CEO. Natasha is well 

qualified with a degree in Economics, experience in small business and in 

the Home’s operations and we welcome her and wish her well in what will be 

a very challenging period. Our bookkeeper, Mrs Connie Raftellis, has also 

agreed to stay on. 

Over the past months, the Home had an external accountant conduct, on a 

part time basis, a thorough review of our finances and projected cash flow 

and profitability forward to 2020 under the present scenario. This initiative 

was jointly undertaken and funded on a 50/50 basis between the TSAL 

(formerly Central Fund) and TTHA, in part to look at the possibility of a 

future TTHA purchase of the land the Home stands on. The results of this 

review have shown that currently and in the near future, TTHA expenses are 

running above budget forecast and significant savings/revenue increase 

must be achieved. To this end the CoM has engaged a consultant with many 

years of aged care management experience to conduct a review of our 

organisational structure, business performance, systems and policies and 

our ACFI (Aged Care Funding Instrument) claims procedures which provide 

the bulk of the Home’s revenue. 

There have been a number of concerns raised by members of our 

Community regarding transparency etc. of the Home’s affairs, with many 

rumours circulating following the resignations. Please be aware that during 

this time of intensive deliberations and negotiations it was imperative that, 

in fairness to all concerned, confidentialities were not breached. I assure our 

members that the CoM is proactive in taking measures to ensure the Home’s


financial stability and in maintaining the high standards of care for our 

elderly. 

On behalf of our CoM, I take this opportunity to sincerely thank Johannes 

Achilles for his dedicated service over the past three years and wish him well 

in his new role in Germany. 

The Home currently has 117 of our beds filled, with 11 intending residents 

waiting urgently, but due to the gastro outbreak we could not fill the 

remaining bed. 

Our Zivis have moved from 38 Elizabeth Street to the new Hostel and 

demolition work across the road is now in progress. 

Four of our Community Aged Care Packages (CACP) are still waiting for 

ACAT assessment. The waiting time for each assessment went up from 12 to 

16 weeks. 

Our projected activities for this month include the Winterfest on 16 th June 

featuring wonderful decorations and entertainment from the Bayswater 

South Primary School Choir. 

Hardy Weller 

Editor’s note: It was particularly sad that no visiting was possible on 

Mothers’ Day. The lock-down was lifted on 20 th May. 

Liebe Freunde, 

mit einem Mal ist es kalt geworden. Es scheint, dass der Winter viel zu früh 

gekommen ist und auch unser Heim konnte die Grippewelle und Magen- 

Darm Grippe nicht abwenden. Am Donnerstag, 29. April, hatten wir den 

ersten Fall von Magen-Darm Grippe, was eine Welle von Ansteckungen 

verursacht hat. Cheryl Young, unser Director of Nursing, hat alle unter den 

Umständen notwendigen Schritte unternommen. Auch jetzt noch haben wir 

Besucherbeschränkungen aufgrund von Krankheitsfällen. Diese Einschränkung 

hatte auch starken Einfluss auf unsere geplanten Veranstaltungen, 

viele mussten abgesagt werden. 

Wir hatten eine turbulente Zeit in unserem Heim über die letzten Wochen. 

Unsere Betriebsleiterin und die Buchhalterin haben gekündigt, ebenso unser 

CEO. Dies bedeutet, dass unser CoM bedeutende Entscheidungen treffen 

muss. Unser CEO, Herr Johannes Achilles, hat uns zugesagt, dass er noch so 

lange bleiben wird, bis ein Nachfolger gefunden ist. Unser CoM hat 

beschlossen, unsere frühere Betriebsleiterin, Frau Natasha Wilkinson, zum 

CEO zu ernennen. Natasha ist hochqualifiziert mit einem Diplom in


Volkswirtschaft, sie hat Erfahrung mit kleinen Betrieben und in der Leitung 

des Heims. Wir heißen sie herzlich willkommen und wünschen ihr alles 

Gute in ihrer neuen Funktion, die sicherlich einige Herausforderungen mit 

sich bringen wird. Unsere Buchhalterin, Frau Connie Raftellis, hat ebenso 

zugesagt, zu bleiben. 

In den letzten Monaten hatten wir einen externen Buchhalter auf 

Teilzeitbasis beschäftigt, der eine Wirtschaftlichkeitsprüfung bis 2020 

durchgeführt hat. Diese Initiative wurde jeweils zur Hälfte vom TSAL und 

TTHA befürwortet und finanziert, mit der Absicht möglicherweise das Land, 

auf dem unser Heim steht, zu kaufen. Die Ergebnisse dieser Prüfung haben 

gezeigt, dass die Ausgaben unseres Heims über dem Budget liegen und 

unbedingt Einsparungen vorgenommen werden müssen. Das CoM hat einen 

Gutachter hinzugezogen, der unsere Organisationsstruktur sowie Wirtschaftlichkeit 

und unser ACFI (Aged Care Funding Instrument) Antragsverfahren 

überprüft, was unsere Haupteinnahmequellen darstellt. 

Aufgrund der Kündigungen waren einige Gerüchte im Umlauf und 

Bedenken wurden darüber geäußert, dass vom CoM nichts bekanntgegeben 

wurde. Hierzu möchte ich sagen, dass es wichtig war in dieser Zeit, in der 

viel verhandelt und besprochen werden musste, absolute Diskretion zu 

bewahren. Ich kann Ihnen jedoch versichern, dass unser CoM proaktiv 

handelt, um die finanzielle Stabilität unseres Heimes sowie den hohen 

Standard der Altenpflege aufrechtzuerhalten. 

Im Namen unseres CoM möchte ich Johannes Achilles meinen aufrichtigen 

Dank für seinen unermüdlichen Einsatz in den letzten drei Jahren 

aussprechen und ihm alles Gute für seine neue Position in Deutschland 

wünschen. 

Zur Zeit sind 117 Betten in unserem Heim belegt mit 11 dringenden Fällen 

auf der Warteliste. Aufgrund des Ausbruchs der Magen-Darm Grippe 

konnten wir keine Betten vergeben. 

Unsere Zivis sind von 38 Elizabeth St in das neue Hostel umgezogen und die 

Abrissarbeiten gegenüber schreiten weiter voran. 

Für vier von unseren CACPs (Community Aged Care Packages) warten wir 

noch auf Begutachtung. Die Wartezeit für jede Begutachtung ist von 12 auf 

16 Wochen angestiegen. 

Unsere Aktivitäten für Juni beinhalten das Winterfest am 16. Juni mit 

schönen Dekorationen und Unterhaltung des Chors der Bayswater South 

Primary School. 

Hartmut Weller


COMING SERVICES 

NOTICES – BEKANNTMACHUNGEN 

Sun 5.6. Be 11:00 

Family Service & 

Community Lunch 

Christine Ruff 

Sun 12.6. S.A. 14:00 Service Tanunda Christa Lingham 

Sun 19.6. Ba 10:15 TS150 Founding Day Mark Herrmann 

Sun 19.6. Sy 10:00 Combined Service Ingrid Turner 

Sun 26.6. TTHA 10:30 Founding Day (150) Hermann Uhlherr 

Sat 2.7. Ba 13:00 TS150 discussion forum Panel of Elders 

Confirmation Lessons from Queen’s Birthday weekend in Bayswater. 

FLOWER ROSTER 

Be 5.6. Family Service/Lunch – Regina Imberger 

Ba 19.6. TS150 – Monika Hirdes, Resi Schwarzbauer 

DISCUSSION FORUM – Saturday 2 nd DISCUSSION FORUM – Saturday 2 July Bayswater Chapel 

nd July Bayswater Chapel 

Further to the TS150 celebrations, the the Elders would like to invite all 

interested members and friends to a discussion forum on facets of the 

Templer faith and how it has has evolved since our founding in 1861. 

Time: 1:00 - 4:30pm (with a break for afternoon tea) 

For further information, contact the Office. 

Mark Herrmann, for the Elders 

FAMILY SERVICE and Community Lunch – 5 th FAMILY SERVICE and Community Lunch – 5 June Bentleigh 11:00am 

th June Bentleigh 11:00am 

All welcome. Please bring a cake to share after the meal. 

TEMPLER TALK – THE FUNDAMENTALS 

Dot Ware 

A series of sessions sessions designed for adults interested in in developing a basic 

understanding of the Temple Society’s faith and philosophy. 

The final session is on Monday 27th June: Temple Society Australia – a 

faith community for the 21st The final session is on Monday 27 

century, in the Bayswater Chapel at 7:30pm. 

Feel free to join us, whether you have attended the earlier sessions or not, 

for a casual, relaxed evening of discussion. 

th June: Temple Society Australia – a 

faith community for the 21st century, in the Bayswater Chapel at 7:30pm. 

Feel free to join us, whether you have attended the earlier sessions or not, 

for a casual, relaxed evening of discussion. 

Renate Beilharz

CONFIRMATION 2011 


Six young people will be starting Templer confirmation classes on the June 

Queen’s Birthday long weekend. They will attend another 10 sessions; the 

confirmation ceremony is on 18 th September 2011 in Melbourne. 

If you have any questions about confirmation, 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 

This series of conversations is finished for this year. Four sessions were 

offered, with a variety of topics and issues of a religious and philosophical 

nature covered. While attendance was very small, the conversations were 

interesting and stimulating. I thank all participants for their enthusiasm and 

input. 

The TSA Elders are interested in feedback from members on how best to 

facilitate future discussions, including advice on preferred times, topics and 

format. 

Renate Beilharz 

email: beilharztr@ozemail.com.au 

SONNWENDFEIER – Saturday 18 th June Bayswater Hall 

A delicious selection of barbequed meat and salads, hot dogs, Glühwein and 

soft drinks – please BYO any other drinks – will be available for a 

reasonable price. The main meal will be served from 5:00pm onwards but 

hot dogs may be purchased from 4:15pm onwards, in case the kids 

need a snack before setting off on the lantern parades! 

Tea and coffee will be available free of charge, and we are asking families 

to bring a cake or slice to share for later in the evening, while we listen 

to our wonderful Brass Ensemble play some lively music! 

There will be a bonfire, the traditional lantern parade, glow stick products 

for sale and damper making. Please bring along your own lantern – we will 

have a small number of new lanterns for purchase on the night. 

This year we will be organising the Lantern Parade a little differently: the 

bonfire will be lit at 6:00pm and shortly after we’ll be lighting our lanterns 

and setting off at 6:15pm on a lantern parade around the Bayswater 

Hall only.


TTHA Laternenzug 

In past years the entire procession walked through TTHA, but this is no 

longer practical, so any families who would like to participate in a smaller 

lantern parade at TTHA are asked to meet at the TTHA main 

entrance at 5:00pm to prepare lanterns and ‘parade’ to the main dining 

room, where we will sing some lantern songs and participate in a staffassisted, 

smaller parade to other areas of the Home. You will then still have 

enough time to join the Bayswater Hall parade at 6:15pm if you wish. 

Please contact Karin Schwarz (TTHA Activities Coordinator) at 

karin.schwarz@ttha.org.au if you would like to take part in the TTHA 

Laternenzug so we know how many people to expect. 

If there are any choir members who may be willing to lend their voices to 

our ‘lantern song singing’ at TTHA, they would be most welcome! Please let 

Karin know if you can help out. 

Important Times 

� 2:00pm – setting up and cooking – please help us with this! 

� 4:15pm – hot dogs available for purchase (great for kids wanting to eat 

before the lantern parades) 

� 5:00pm – meet at TTHA main entrance for TTHA Laternenzug 

� 5:00pm – main meals available for purchase at the Templer Hall 

� 6:00pm – lighting of bonfire, assemble for parade 

� 6:15pm – Bayswater Hall lantern parade 

� 7:30pm – coffee and cake available; Brass Ensemble plays some time 

� 8:00pm onwards – clean up – please help us with this! 

We do need helpers for setting up, cooking and serving food and later on 

for cleaning up, so if anyone can help, this would be much appreciated. 

Please ring Mandy or email gemp1@bigpond.com 

We also need some Dads (or Mums) to supervise the bonfire throughout the 

evening. Please contact Heiner Wagner at heinzandjacki@optusnet.com.au 

So rug up, bring your lantern and good humour, and join us for a fun family 

evening – no matter what the weather is like! 

Susi Richter, for the Social & Recreation FG

BENTLEIGH WORKING BEE 


The 22,000 litre water tank is now installed in Bentleigh’s Secret Garden. 

Water will be collected from the Office and bowling alley roofs, and provide 

water for the tennis courts. Many thanks to those who have assisted in this 

joint project between the Property Management Focus Group and the 

Bentleigh Tennis Club. 

Reminder that the next Bentleigh Working Bee is on Saturday 23 rd 

July, commencing at 9:00am. 

Please contact Peter Ware or Paul Weberruss for further information. 

CRAFT SESSIONS 

Peter Ware, for the Property Management FG 

New tank behind the 

Bentleigh Office 

Photo Peter Ware 

To avoid clashing with the ladies’ get-together in Bentleigh, the next sessions 

in Bayswater will be held on the third Tuesday of the month on 21 st June 

and 19 th July from 10:00am till approx. 12:30pm in the Activity Room at 

TTHA. Please ring Helga Kuerschner if you are planning to attend. 

The next sessions in Bentleigh will be held at the back of the hall – if not 

being used – Saturday 11 th June and 23 rd July from 2:00-4:00pm. Some 

new faces would be very welcome. I have a few things organised for others to 

do but I am happy for people to come along with their own ideas as to what 

we can make for the Adventsfeier Craft stalls. Ring me if you intend to come 

along. 

Marianne Herrmann, for the Craft Groups


WU TAO WORKSHOP 

This workshop will be run by Karin Williamson on 25 th June at the 

Bentleigh Hall. This is a fundraiser for the Careworker Youth Project (see 

May TR page 30). We hope you can come along for a great day. 

REUNION FOR VINTAGES 1937, ’38 and ’39 

Where: Hepburn Springs near Daylesford in Victoria 

When: Monday 10 th to Wednesday 12 th September 2012 

Please note date and location in your diaries now. More information will 

follow in due course. 

Hoping to see you all and let’s have a great time together. 

WALKS 

Nelly Spieth, for the Organising Committee 

The Templer Walking Group is on break until August. Further details then. 

MEN’S ADVANCE – May 2011 

Negotiating the slushy course in the modified Suzie. See also page 17. 

Trudi Murray

FROM OUR PAST 


THE HERITAGE PAGES 

This month we explore the beginnings of the Templer movement in the light 

of our 150 year celebrations. 

In 1861, the situation was entirely different from our modern, fast-moving 

world, but I admire our forebears for their strong belief in the message of 

Jesus Christ and their trust in the power of the Almighty, as well as for their 

determination and sacrifice. 

To our younger generations it may appear unbelievable that our forebears 

gave up their homes in Germany and made a new start in that primitive and 

most neglected corner of the Ottoman Empire – Palestine. 

While other religious groups had tried to settle in Palestine with little 

success, the Templer pioneers succeeded and built something that is still 

remembered and valued in Israel, where considerable efforts are being made 

in restoring Templer houses. Historians like Alex Carmel, Haim Goren, 

Yossi Ben-Artzi, Jakob Eisler, Yaron Perry and Danny Goldman have 

reawakened interest in our past and they present it in the light of time 

through their positive publications, which surprises and pleases many of our 

members. 

Young people who have not experienced the deeply felt Templer spirit in our 

former settlements may find it hard to appreciate the effort and sacrifice 

expended in achieving such admirable results. It would be wonderful to see 

parents making greater efforts to impart more of our history to our future 

generations. (Please see the list of publications following the pictures). The 

pictures on the following pages give a small indication of early Templer 

Community life. 

Horst Blaich 

A glowing tribute thanking Horst has been received from Bruno 

Weinmann for Horst’s Heritage work, and especially for promoting 

respectful and friendly interaction between Australian, Israeli and German 

historians.


Haifa settlement, established 1868/69 

Jaffa settlement, established 1869


Above: Sarona settlement, established 1871, below: Jerusalem settlement, established 1873


Wilhelma settlement, 

established 1902 

Below: Betlehem settlement 

(near Haifa), established 1906

Waldheim settlement, established 1908 


Photos and maps from the ‘Albert Blaich Family Archive-Australia’ 

PUBLICATIONS ON TEMPLER HISTORY 

Die Siedlungen der 

Württembergischen Templer in 

Palästina 1868-1918 

Alex Carmel, 1973 

Vom Schwarzwald ins Heilige Land Willi Bidermann, 1990 

The Holy Land Called Paul Sauer, TSA 1991 

Der deutsche Beitrag zum Aufstieg 

Jaffas 1850-1914 

Jakob Eisler, 1997 

Kultureller Wandel in Palästina im Jakob Eisler, Norbert Haag, Sabine 

frühen 20. Jahrhundert 

Holtz, 2003 

The Architecture of the Templers Danny Goldman, 2003 

Memories of Palestine Temple Society Australia, 2005 

From Desert Sands to Golden Helmut Glenk, Horst Blaich, 

Oranges 

Manfred Haering, 2005 

Chronicle of a Utopia Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv, 2006 

The Case of the German Templers in 

Eretz-Israel 

Yossi Ben-Artzi, 2006 

Shattered Dreams at Kilimanjaro 

Helmut Glenk, Horst Blaich and Peer 

Gatter, 2007 

The Wennagel Story Irene and Horst Blaich, 2007 

Exiled from the Holy Land Compiled by Horst Blaich, 2009 

Recollection of an old Templer Gottlieb S. Ruff, 2009 

The Blaich Genealogy 1578-2010 Horst and Irene Blaich, 2011 

Sarona Helmut Glenk, 2011


WHO ARE THEY? 

The group photo below was taken in Sarona, most likely in the 1920s. If 

anyone can identify the bridal couple or anybody else on it, would they 

please contact Manfred Haering at mindiekar@optusnet.com.au 

EXHIBITION 

AT THE 

TTHA TEMPLER GALLERY 

April – June 2011 

OLD POSTCARDS FROM 

THE MIDDLE EAST 

ALL WELCOME


COMMUNITY LAWN MOWING ROSTERS 

JUNE/JULY 2011 

BAYSWATER BENTLEIGH 

12th June 

Dieter Ruff 

Harald Ruff 

18th June 

Peter Ware 

Herb Hoffmann 

17th July 

Andy Walch 

Marcus English 

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. 

MOTHERS’ DAY LUNCHEON – Bentleigh 10 th May 

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 

Photo Martina Eaton


JUNE 2011 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 

1 Wed Art Exhibition Roseville 

2 Thur � 

3 Fri ERC Be 19:30 

4 Sat 

5 SUN Family Service & Community Lunch Be 11:00 

6 Mon 

7 Tue 

8 Wed 

9 Thur 

10 Fri Seniors Sy 12:00; Telelink 

11 Sat Craft Be 14:00; Confirmation Course Ba 

12 SUN Service Tanunda 14:00; Confirmation Course Ba 

13 Mon 

14 Tue Ladies’ Group Be 12:00 

15 Wed 

16 Thur TTHA Winterfest � 

17 Fri Bloke Thing, see page 10 

18 Sat Confirmation Class; Sonnwend Ba 17:00; Laternenzug 

19 SUN Founding Day TS150 Ba & Sy 

20 Mon 

21 Tue Craft Session Ba 10:00 

22 Wed 

23 Thur 

24 Fri Telelink 

25 Sat Wu Tao Workshop Be 10:00 to 16:00 

26 SUN Founding Day TS150 TTHA 10:30 

27 Mon Templer Talk Ba 19:30 

28 Tue 

29 Wed 

30 Thur 

JULY 2011 

1 Fri RC Ba 19:30 

2 Sat TS150 Discussion Forum Ba 13:00 

3 SUN 

New Moon � Full Moon �

Templer Record - Templesociety.com

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