The Top Ender Magazine August September 2023 Edition

ADF Chaplains in the NT
CHAPLAIN’S CHAT
Navy On-call: 0409 662 823
THE WORST AND BEST ADVICE
Kelvin Harris HMAS Coonawarra
Anglican
0401 075 488
Esava Koro HMAS Coonawarra
Seventh Day Adventist
0423 451 989
Shaun Foster Patrol Boat Chaplain
Australian Christian Churches
0400 514 375
Army On-call: 0427 713 963
Glen Elsegood 8/12 Regiment
Anglican
0429 345 167
Garth Mayger Regional Support
Catholic
0409 778 462
Kelly Horne 1CER
Australian Christian Churches
0418 428 337
Chris Lindsay 1CSSB
Presbyterian
0419 869 187
Brendan Quirk HQ1 BDE
Catholic
0407 283 050
Shane Rogerson 5RAR
Anglican
0408 684 783
Anthony Doyle 1AVN
Catholic
0429 891 274
Airforce Darwin On-call:
0477 308 064
Airforce Tindal On-call:
0427 890 054
Christopher Buckley-Wilkshire RAAF Tindal
Churches of Christ
0437 702 645
Peter Taylor RAAF Tindal
Anglican
0423 686 109
Karen Haynes RAAF Darwin
Baptist
0408 765 660
The worst and best advice that I ever received as a parent.
Anyone out there who has been a new parent is familiar with receiving
unsolicited advice from all sorts of people, including some people who
have never had kids or whose relationships with their kids is clearly
disastrous.
I think the craziest advice I ever got
was “Always affirm and agree with
your kids, no matter what they do.”
Now I’m all in favour of support and
encouragement, but seriously!
“Oh so you’ve been expelled from
Kindergarten for setting fire to the
Preschool goldfish pond? Wow, I don’t
even know how you did that. Johnny, I’m
so proud of you!”
“You want to take that 30-year-old
‘friend’ who’s just been released from
jail to your Year 12 Formal? Good choice
Dear, I’m sure that’ll work out just
great!”
On the other hand, the best single
piece of advice I ever received came
from our eldest child's usually serious
and quite strict Kindy teacher, Mrs
Cannon (I’m sure we never knew her
first name). We were talking about
my son’s interests, and she suggested
that I try and find things to do that
interested both of us because that
way I would be more likely to
actually make them happen - it was
great advice.
Most kids love Dinosaurs, so we
rekindled my childhood interest in
them and bought the bath toy
Diplodocus and Triceratops and of
course T-Rex; we wore out Walking
with Dinosaurs DVDs, played
Dinosaur alphabet (turns out there’s
Xiaosaurus and a Quetzlcoatlus –
who knew?) and bought lots of Dino
books. Eventually the kids outgrew
Dinosaurs - me not so much.
Later there was Thomas the Tank Engine – sooo many toy metal trains
that were great to throw at siblings for maximum effect.
Rugby League followed for the boys and Touch Football for their sister.
Now, twenty years later, the boys are still playing cricket (our daughter
has sadly retired from sport), but we’re in the same team for occasional
games and the boys are far better than Dad.
We did various Youth Group and other Church activities together which
branched off into overseas Mission trips. We quickly worked out that our
daughter is much more relaxed with rats than the males in her family and
much calmer than her mum!
We all know the demands that ADF service can place on us, and we
don’t always get the time that we would like with our kids. That’s why
I’m so appreciative to Mrs Cannon’s pre-school advice to find things that
our family can enjoy together.
There’s an old saying; The family that prays together, stays together.
I’d like to add; The family that plays together, stays together.
If you’ve got young kids, I don’t need to tell you how hard it can be, but
there’s a lot of fun to be had too.
Good luck!
WHAT IS WHEELCHAIR RUGBY?
Wheelchair rugby is a fast paced, full contact team sport for male
and female quadriplegics (tetraplegics) looking to get involved in a
team sport.
The sport was originally called “Murderball” due to the aggressive
nature of the game. It is a contact sport where collisions between
wheelchairs form a major part of the game. Wheelchair rugby
combines elements of rugby, basketball and handball.
Men and women compete on the same teams and in the same
competitions.
Each team has four players on court and the aim is to score by
carrying the ball across the goal line.
Australia is currently ranked no. 2 in the world by World
Wheelchair Rugby.
The 2023 Santos Wheelchair Rugby National Championship was a
wonderful domestic showcase of the sport, with a vocal crowd in
attendance to witness the crowning of the new national champions
in June this year. It was however the contribution of broadcast
partners Fox Sports and Kayo Sports that defined the success of
the event, with the sport broadcast into homes and venues across
the country both on Kayo’s streaming platform and Fox Sports
channel 507 across all three days of competition.
In division one, the NSW Gladiators achieved the impossible,
winning their third straight National Championship title in an
exhilarating overtime match against the Victoria Protect Thunder.
With NSW leading for the majority of the match, they could never
quite shake the Victorians, who sealed a dramatic overtime finish
late in the fourth quarter to tie things up.
In division two, The South Australian Sharks celebrated their first
gold medal, defeating the West Coast Enforcers in the final, a
reflection of the positive growth the South Australian’s have seen
in their program in recent years.
It’s fantastic to watch some of our ADF veterans driving amazing
opportunities and achievements in sport! Congratulations to all
teams who competed in the competition!
wheelchairrugby.com.au
facebook.com/people/Santos-
Wheelchair-Rugby-National-
Championship-
2023/100092727413259/?
mibextid=LQQJ4d
All three services provide a 24/7 on-call number for
emergencies. Each Unit/Ship/Base has its own chaplain
who can assist. If you chaplain is not available, please
contact the on-call number for your Service.
Denominational or faith-specific ministry can be
arranged as required.
Written by CHAP Anthony Doyle
Catholic
1 st Aviation Regiment
50 The Top Ender | Tri-Services Magazine Incorporated AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2023 51