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christian coMMunity dR StEPHEn MoRRiS Christians should know what it is like to be an alien in the world. Try to put yourself in other people’s shoes. Dr Stephen Morris 44 shine or rain. Visitors were required to know the particular refugee’s number before they were allowed to visit them—at that time only a detainee’s number was used by the Centre staff, never names. Dr. Morris describes it as “a very unpleasant, aggressive environment.” Later, after many public complaints, a visitor was able to request a visit to a specific detainee, using their actual name. the refugees, mainly from afghanistan, iraq and iran, were very appreciative of the time spent with them and for the chance to talk with people from outside the razor-wire. “this made it all worthwhile,” Dr. Morris says. over time Dr Morris developed very close relationships with a number of the refugees. He was saddened and distressed as he saw inmates slowly descend into depression and apathy. “when they first came to Villawood they would usually have quite a positive attitude,” he remembers. “they liked to chat and talk about their country and their family, the situation they were fleeing from and what they hoped to achieve. But because i visited continuously for a number of years i could see changes. after about six months they usually started to withdraw into themselves, getting more and more depressed. it was really tragic to see the mental damage being done to these vulnerable people, before my eyes.” Dr Morris has maintained close friendships with about six people from those early days of visiting. “of those six, i think only one is leading a productive normal life. the other five, despite their many talents and potential when they arrived in australia, have permanent mental scars or ongoing severe depression and post traumatic stress. For them, coping with the daily demands of life, education or a job is extremely difficult.” Dr Morris now works with a group of people who are former detainees, supporting them as they settle into life in australia and get used to the “outside world”. while conditions have improved significantly at Villawood, stephen believes that not only should australia review its refugee policy and take a politically bi-partisan approach, but that individuals should be more empathetic to the situation refugees are in. He says, “i think there is a harshness in the church that wasn’t there before. it was present in the mid 2000s, but is still very evident today. you have passages like Matthew 25, where Jesus talks to his disciples about the time ‘when i was a stranger and you welcomed me in.’ “Many people seem to feel quite distant from that, as though they have no responsibility, Christian or otherwise, to these people. the reason for this attitude is often because these ‘bad people’ have not obtained official travel documents from the government of their country (usually either bureaucratically impossible or a life-threatening task) and have not applied officially to join the ‘queue’ (again impossible as no australian embassies in or near any of these refugee countries allow applications for refugee status to be made). “Christians should know what it is like to be an alien in the world. try to put yourself in other people’s shoes, or at the very least consider the strength of language Jesus used in Matthew 25:31-46, against those who refused to consider the less fortunate as worthy of any help or sympathy.”
christian coMMunity MiLAnKA ZLAtAR ARV EMPLoyEE from the other side Back in the 1970s what is now Villawood Detention Centre had another life as the first stop for newly arrived migrants. It was there, at the Villawood Migrant Hostel, that 18 year old Milanka Zlatar arrived with her husband on 3 September 1970 having made the long journey from Serbia, which was then part of Yugoslavia. words SARitA EngLAnd Photo ALEx CRAig MMiLanKa now worKs in the servery at arV’s winston Lodge and looks back on that day with laughter. at the time, however, she recalls being frightened and confused. Her first sight of Villawood did nothing to reassure her! “those barrel houses—it was like a concentration camp. i said, ‘oh my goodness, do i have to stay here?’” the decision to immigrate to australia had been made quickly—and much to the horror of both sides of the family. “we were just married and the australian Government was going to buy our tickets. we only had to stay two years, so we said, ‘why not? if it is that bad, we will come back.’ the family was very upset but we didn’t listen to anybody!” she says. shine 45
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Page 9 and 10: Right Joy Piele (left) and Alicia D
Page 11 and 12: All residents will enjoy a pleasant
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Page 21 and 22: We took frisbees and balls. There w
Page 23 and 24: The entries to our Shine poetry com
Page 25 and 26: one Minute with gWEnEtH Bott goWRiE
Page 27 and 28: Below OzHarvest founder Ronni Kahn.
Page 29 and 30: the seven deadly food Wastage sins
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Page 35 and 36: Right Raspberry Souffle from Patiss
Page 37 and 38: Below The Adelie penguins at Cape A
Page 39 and 40: It is a place unspoilt by humanity
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Page 55 and 56: Below Janette Bonner—a ‘twiligh
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Page 59 and 60: interests PAinting ARV RESidEnt, MA
Page 61 and 62: a wonderfully warming way to enjoy
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Page 65 and 66: one Minute with PHiL PAynE goWRiE V
Page 67 and 68: Numbers Puzzle All the answers in t
Page 69 and 70: ARV accommodation solutions shine 6
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Page 75 and 76: With Bondi Junction close by and th
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Page 81 and 82: Lemongrove Gardens, Penrith Lemongr
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Page 85 and 86: Warriewood Brook, Warriewood At War
Page 87 and 88: Each site has a diversional therapi
Page 90 and 91: PuZZles SoLutionS The Shine Crosswo
Page 92: Newmarch House is ARV’s newest as

Shine - Anglican Retirement Villages

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